He will never forget this nightmare
I'm off! One week Turkey, holidays in the holiday paradise Antalya in the sun and pleasant temperatures - TV star Hape Kerkeling (45) was really looking forward to this trip. But what he then experienced, sounds simply incredible: Germany's most popular comedian is overwhelmed by Turkish police, threatened with weapons and arrested. A holiday drama that will not be forgotten by Hape Kerkeling all his life.
His dearest friend Angelo Colagrossi (49) has now described this incredible nightmare in his new book "Mr. Blunagalli has no humor". And it reads like the script for a feature film. Everything started with a harmless mission. Hape Kerkeling is supposed to host an event in a 5-star hotel in the Turkish resort of Antalya. Working two days, then five days of vacation - that's the plan. Hape Kerkeling agrees, flies with his friend, the book author Angelo Colagrossi, and a friend in Turkey.
Shortly after landing, the unbelievable happens: five armed police storm towards the three, convert them, threaten them with submachine guns. Wild gestures, loud shouting in a foreign language. A shock! The police are forcing Hape and his companions together. Angelo Colagrossi writes in his book: "We had no idea what happened to us; our passports were confiscated, and within seconds we landed at the airport station ... "There the next shock: The police chief claims that against the three had been issued a warrant for heroin smuggling! What Hape Kerkeling is thinking about at this moment - one can only speculate. He also knows that in distant countries other laws prevail. Even small offenses are often punished severely. In drug possession threatens in many a country detention, even the death penalty. "We were completely shocked and scared ... Our cautious attempts to justify ourselves and clarify the misunderstanding were unsuccessful, " Hape's friend Angelo Colagrossi describes the situation.
Perplexity mingles with anger and panic. After hours of uncertainty - finally! - An employee of the German consulate turns up. The good news: The three do not have to go to jail. For this they are under arrest in their hotel. Nevertheless, Hape Kerkeling and his companions can breathe first. They are driven to the hotel. In front of the entrance are German technicians who had previously traveled to prepare for Hape's appearance at the hotel.
And now something happens that leaves the otherwise so quick-witted TV comedian the language. The technicians grin and tell Hape Kerkeling that the arrest was a joke they had threaded. A joke, as a little "surprise". He knows something like this ...
The TV star is stunned. No, that's no joke. When he also learns that the police chief was privy, but not the police with the submachine guns, he is pissed off. One does not even think what could have happened if the three "suspects" did not behave so calmly. Hape Kerkeling is definitely someone who understands fun. Of course, he also puts people in his shows, but he would never panic anyone or put them in mortal danger, never! Witzigkeit has its limitations. And for sure, Hape Kerkeling will never be able to laugh at this Turkey nightmare.
