The video is over 40 minutes long, has been viewed over 40,000 times and has a hashtag on social media. #MarioBarth discussed intensely what can be seen there: comedian Mario Barth was kicked off the train after a dispute over an allegedly incorrectly used mouth and nose guard and had to continue his journey to Frankfurt am Main by taxi.
What exactly happened before that is unclear from the photos – it is only clear that Barth apparently got into an argument with a Deutsche Bahn (DB) train attendant. Whether Barth wasn’t wearing his mask, or if he only took it off to drink, as he explains several times in the video posted to Instagram, remains hidden from onlookers. In the meantime, though, the Berlin artist admitted there was likely another point of contention besides drinking: he also didn’t wear a mask when recording a live video on ICE because he felt it wasn’t necessary in a compartment.
Point of contention here or there – the fact is that the gas station attendant in question apparently called the police after an agitated exchange of words.
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At the Hanau (Hesse) stop, several Federal Police officers with bulletproof vests climbed up – this can also be seen in the video. He can’t hide his astonishment at this turn of events. “Right now?” he asks, adding, “Now it’s going to be fun.” At the same time, he promises his fans that he will document everything on video.
However, this attempt appears to have failed. Employees, who are in the compartment a little later, warn that they do not want to be filmed and that they do not want to be mentioned by name in any online publication. Barth then turns on the phone’s camera so only he can be seen in the photo. In the subsequent exchange, which is now verbally documented, the officers point out to him that masks are mandatory on the train. The 49-year-old responds that he knows this and only briefly removed the protection from his mouth and nose to drink, because otherwise “the mask would get wet”.
“I’m not someone who complains”
However, federal police do not want to discuss the topic in detail. They’re just here to enforce Deutsche Bahn’s house rules, and they say he, Barth, has to get off the train.
Barth also agrees in principle – “I’m not a complainer” – but also asks if his ticket is now invalid and who will pay for the next cab ride. “Well the attendant walks by, he doesn’t like the way I’m drinking, he comes in, yells at me, totally rude, and he says, ‘Get off the train!’ And my ticket I bought is over?”, says Barth verbatim.
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The authorities, however, also do not go into great detail on these issues. He should please discuss all of this with his lawyer later, they just say, to which Barth announces that he will do just that. Over the course of the film, the execution of the measure can be seen: Barth and his friends get off the train, their personal details are recorded and they continue the taxi ride, where Barth continues to get emotional.
Deutsche Bahn wants to investigate the incident
The news portal “T-Online”, which reports on the incident, obtained a statement from Deutsche Bahn. The answer: “The legal obligation to wear a mask applies on our trains. This also applies to Mario Barth.”
A railway spokesperson made a similar point to the dpa news agency on Sunday: “Basically, there is a mask requirement on trains and that also applies to Mr. Barth. If someone just drinks or eats something, it’s not a problem. If he consistently doesn’t put on the mask, it’s one.”
The incident will be investigated and the train driver will also be heard, he said, and: The mask requirement for trains is also prescribed by law because people sit together on trains for a long time and with the windows closed. It remains unclear whether Mario Barth himself will actually take legal action.
Editor’s Note: The text has been supplemented with current statements from both parties involved