Comedian Mario Barth says he was thrown off a Deutsche Bahn train because he wasn’t wearing a face mask. According to a video posted by Barth, a Bahn train manager complained that the mask was missing Friday night on an ICE from Berlin to Frankfurt and called the federal police, who let Barth off the train in Hanau.
Barth complained about the incident, initially saying he was drinking in his compartment and therefore not wearing a mask. He later admitted that he had not worn a mask in the earlier recording of a video of the train because he felt it was not necessary in a compartment.
Wearing a mask on the train applies to everyone
A railway spokesperson confirmed the suit and emphasized: “Basically, there is a mask requirement on trains and this 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 commissioner will also be heard. The mask requirement for trains is prescribed by law because people sit together for a long time with the windows closed.
Barth took a taxi and complained
Barth talks about the incident shortly before in a 44-minute video he posted online. The video shows how the officers arrive and a brief discussion ensues. Barth says he drank something and that’s the only reason he didn’t wear a mask. The police refer to the railway’s household rights, Barth leaves the train with his two companions and the police and heads to Frankfurt by taxi.
In the taxi, the comedian continues to talk and berates the coronavirus regulations and the train commissioner who yelled at him. He also says he was sitting in a separate compartment and thought anyway, “The mask has been gone since April.”
Then he says: “Yes, that’s right, I didn’t drink for a while and even then I took off the mask. Yes, I’m not flawless. But I figured because the compartment was ours alone with the door locked, it didn’t matter. Now I remember too. I am in favor of anyone who makes a mistake being immediately expelled by the police.”