Boris Becker with his girlfriend Lilly Kerssenberg. Photo: DPA

Germans find their celebrities dull

Published: 27 Apr 09 12:46 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20090427-18909.html

German celebrities aren’t worth talking about – even in Germany – according to an online media study published this week. Madonna and other foreign celebs ranked well above the country’s dimly shining stars for web gossip.

The “Promi-Buzz Barometer” for social media marketing researcher Ethority trolled 100,000 online user-generated comments on 240 popular blogs, forums, and Twitter feeds, finding that US singer Madonna is Germany’s most talked-about celebrity.

The Material Girl accounted for 5.6 percent of all online gossip, followed closely by heartthrob Brad Pitt (5.5 percent), Tom Cruise (5.2 percent) and the Brad's wife Angelina Jolie (5.1 percent).

The first German celebrity to register on the list was former tennis star Boris Becker, who took 22nd place with just 2.5 percent of the gossip-driven content – likely focused on his torrid love life.

The only other German celebrity to make a mark was 28th place popstar Sarah Connor, who has made her name releasing English-language albums like “Soulicious” and “Sexy as Hell.” While her name may draw blank stares outside of Germany, Connor can at least count herself among the celebrities with the best reputation on the list.

Ethority rated the postitive to negative coverage ratio, and Connor, with 20.3 percent positive online hype, was just below stars like Oscar winners Heath Ledger (26.8 percent) and Kate Winslet (23.6 percent).

“With user-generated media, the users are in a position to comment on every step their idols make,” Ethority spokesperson David Nelles told German media news site Meedia on Monday, adding that many stars have begun to engage fans through these mediums to better control the content.

Good thing Boris, who had a “relaxing Sunday with his boy” on February 15, knows how to tweet.

The Local (news@thelocal.de)

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Your comments about this article:

13:49 April 27, 2009 by lurker
Oh dear - is Boris Becker really the best we can do? I suppose the Tokio Hotel kids don't really cut the mustard.
17:53 April 27, 2009 by Keny
Who gives a good god damn about "promis?" what a waste of time.
08:59 April 28, 2009 by LMB222
Ja ja, it's all because the first five are all Americans, and Germans somehow haven't figured that the Land of Rape and Honey isn't the Paradise they wish it were.
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