Overview
- On June 3, multiple outlets reported that Die Zeit conducted an about five‑hour interview with Christian Ulmen at the end of March but cannot publish any quotes because Ulmen and his lawyer withdrew authorization after weeks of negotiation.
- Collien Fernandes has publicly accused her ex‑husband of digitally sexualized violence, saying he created fake profiles, impersonated her in sexual chats, and distributed intimate images and videos that appeared to show her.
- Ulmen’s lawyers have denied the production or distribution of deepfakes and have rejected claims of physical assault while offering off‑the‑record or non‑attributable background talks to some outlets.
- The Potsdam public prosecutor’s office has opened a criminal investigation based on Fernandes’ complaint and is now the active official channel examining the allegations; German procedure presumes innocence during the probe.
- The episode highlights how authorization practices let interview subjects control published quotes and how emerging questions about deepfake evidence complicate both journalistic reporting and criminal fact‑finding.