Riccardo Simonetti Faces Homophobic Backlash Over Upcoming 'Sesamstraße' Appearance

The German broadcaster NDR has closed comment sections following hateful online reactions, reaffirming the show's commitment to inclusivity and tolerance.

Riccardo Simonetti, an openly gay influencer and LGBTQ+ advocate, is set to appear on the German 'Sesamstraße' in October 2025, with filming having started in March.
The announcement of Simonetti's guest role led to a surge of homophobic comments on social media, prompting NDR to close the comment section on its official Facebook post.
Critics accused the show of 'brainwashing' children, while supporters praised the decision to promote diversity and self-empowerment in children's programming.
Simonetti has described the hateful comments as a significant mental health challenge, expressing frustration over the premature criticism of his appearance.
NDR reiterated that 'Sesamstraße' has upheld values of tolerance and respect for over 50 years and emphasized that hateful and demeaning remarks will not be tolerated.