More cases of physical assault in the cultural sector

The German cultural sector's independent complaints office Themis, established in Berlin in 2018 after the #MeToo scandal, has reported a sharp rise in cases of physical sexual assault among its first-time contacts. In 2025, experts conducted over 600 counseling sessions, including 105 initial consultations, of which 68 involved physical assault or rape—compared to 37 cases of verbal harassment. This marks a reversal from 2024, when verbal harassment cases (68) outnumbered physical ones (61). In the first three months of 2026, 20 people have already contacted Themis about physical attacks.

The shift matters because it reflects a broader societal trend, according to Themis president Martina Zöllner and executive director Maren Lansink. They point to a worsening social climate, increased misogyny both online and offline, and persistent structural vulnerabilities in the cultural industry—such as power dependencies and close physical proximity on sets—that enable abuse. The data also suggests younger victims are now more willing to name physical assaults for what they are, indicating a cultural shift in reporting behavior even as the underlying problem intensifies.