Luke Mockridge:

“I was an asshole and I’m sorry for that”

Luke Mockridge thought his life was over.

(Bild: Rolf Vennenbernd / dpa / picturedesk.com)

After more than two years, German comedian Luke Mockridge has spoken out about the serious allegations made by his ex-girlfriend Ines Anioli.

"I asked friends, doctors and therapists: Is there something I haven't seen?" said Mockridge in the "Stern" interview. "No matter how often I think back to our relationship, there was nothing violent. I don't blame myself."

Proceedings dropped
Anioli had accused him of rape during their relationship in 2019. The investigation was dropped, but a shitstorm erupted against the comedian on social media.

In the interview, Mockridge admits that he once had "an almost athletic motivation" to "pick up women".

I had an almost athletic motivation to pick up women and I can take responsibility for my misconduct and say: I was an asshole and I'm sorry for that.

Luke Mockridge

Criticism of "Spiegel" article
However, he criticizes the link between the "Spiegel" article, which accused him of assaulting women, and the rape allegations: "My party behaviour may be criticized and classified as human misconduct. The other is an act that I did not commit. I can take responsibility for my misconduct and say: I was an asshole and I'm sorry for that."

The "Spiegel" questionnaire about the accusations almost drove him to suicide: "I thought: Okay, now my life is over." Mockridge continued: "I wanted to end this play that was my life."

Suicide had long been a way out for him: "A friend then had me committed to a psychiatric ward."

Mockridge was once one of the most successful comedians in Germany. After the scandal, the industry also withdrew from him.