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Jimi Blue Ochsenknecht as crying Judas: The “Passion” viewers probably didn’t expect that. If you believe the comments online, they could have done without it.
Kassel – Judas sings Falco’s “Out of the Dark” while he betrays Jesus, Kassel becomes Jerusalem and a 250 kilo cross of light is dragged three kilometers across the city by 600 people in turn: This is “The Passion”. Jimi Blue Ochsenknecht (32) is also there this year – as Judas. It’s not an easy role, as the actor realizes that he’s suddenly fighting back tears. But TV viewers are anything but moved by these scenes.
When he betrays Jesus: Jimi Blue Ochsenknecht cries during “The Passion” in front of an audience of millions
It is one of the key scenes in “The Passion”: Judas betrays Jesus. In the RTL musical version, Jimi Blue Ochsenknecht drives with several police officers to an empty house on the outskirts of town. Jesus and his disciples, including “Let’s Dance” professional Zsolt Sándor Cseke (36), pop singer Stefanie Hertel (44) and DSDS star Joey Heindle (30), are waiting there. Before Jesus is arrested, he and Judas sing a duet: Falco’s “Out of the Dark”.
The emotions seem to overwhelm both actors. Because both Jimi Blue Ochsenknecht and Jesus actor Ben Blümel (42) are fighting back tears. In the spotlight you can see that both of their eyes are getting moist. At some point, Jimi Blue Ochsenknecht can no longer hold it back and tears finally roll down his cheeks.
As he later revealed to Frauke Ludowig (60) in an interview, the evening was “very emotional” for him. “It was very tiring playing Judas, the struggle with yourself to convey these emotions,” he has to admit.
“The Passion” against “Aktenzeichen XY”: bitter defeat in the ratings duel
For the second time, RTL staged a modern version of the Easter story with “The Passion”. However, the divine Easter musical also had to compete with a real cult show on Wednesday evening (March 27th): “File number XY … unsolved” on ZDF. Who is ahead in the ratings duel: “The Passion” or “Aktenzeichen XY”?
Tearful performance as Judas: “The Passion” viewers laugh at Jimi Blue Ochsenknecht
However, TV viewers are not moved by the emotional performance, as a look online shows. “Jimi Blue has wet eyes? This is Cinema,” writes one user X (formerly Twitter) sarcastic. “Jimi and Ben completely in their element. Both with tears in their eyes. I’m screaming,” said another viewer. “Why is Jimi crying? Is he thinking about his daughter?” said a third user quite cynically.
Speaking of which: After his tearful appearance on “Die Passion”, Jimi Blue Ochsenknecht is available to answer questions from RTL celebrity expert Frauke Ludowig. But he doesn’t want to answer a question. Sources used: RTL/The Passion, RTL/“Exclusive Special: The Passion”/ RTL, X