In an interview, Alina Merkau, presenter at “Sat.1 Breakfast TV”, spoke openly about the fact that she would prefer not to show everything about herself on TV - but not in the way you think.
As a woman, things are certainly not easy on TV. As in all areas of the public, you are judged by your appearance, if you are too loud, too shy, too sweet, too bitchy, someone will definitely notice. But you learn to deal with that at some point. It is less easy to process if you find such search queries with your own name on YouTube:
"It's a lot about Rockblitzer and a lot about feet.", said Merkau when asked whether she knew what would happen if you entered her name on YouTube (see screenshot above). "No joke: it is now really the case that we girls from breakfast television are trying to stop their feet from being shown in the recording." The most frequently asked question on their social media accounts: "Can you send foot photos or socks?"
Foot fetish is a sexual obession involving feet and legs. And if you live that in your own four walls, then it's really nobody's business. But to cut together videos of moderators and upload them to YouTube with titles like "Alina Merkau - legs legs" or "Mega Sexy legs & high heels (sic!)"? This goes too far!
But that is (as always) only the tip of the iceberg, because podophiles (podophilia is the sexual preference for feet) feel particularly comfortable online. From Wikifeet via relevant forums: Foot pictures are diligently shared by private individuals, but also by stars and starlets.
It's good that Merkau has learned how to deal with such requests. With many inquiries, comments and hate postings, she would like to explain herself straight away. You try to avoid it, but: "If it happens on my side, I'll answer. Politely and with wit, but firmly."
