For Joey Heindle, the role in a Hollywood film means a turning point in his career so far. In Baden-Baden he was in front of the camera for the film "Someone Dies Tonight". The 28-year-old became known in 2012 through his participation in the RTL casting show "Deutschland sucht den Superstar". At that time he made it to number 5 on the show. From then on he tinkered from one reality format to the next. In the RTL jungle camp he took the crown in 2013, two years later he wanted to "I'm a star – let me back in!" again to Australia.
After various other TV shows, Heindle took part in the seventh season of "Promi Big Brother" in 2019 and made it to second place. For the singer, however, the show was anything but fun. "It was absolute bullying for me," he says of the season. He now wants to turn his back on reality TV. He's also currently taking a social media break to focus on himself. In an interview with the news agency spot on news, Joey Heindle reveals why he would prefer to retire at the moment and that he has some mental work to do. He also explains what he is particularly proud of in his life so far.
You have worked with Hollywood stars through your new film role in Someone Dies Tonight. Are German celebrities different?
Joey Heindle: Totally different. I'm currently trying to stay out of the German celebrity world. The problem is: no one begrudges you anything. I don't care what people think of me now. i do my thing I've always gone my own way, even if it was sometimes difficult. Nevertheless, I fought my way through and have always remained myself. What also honors me is that I also work in the rescue team or with the fire brigade. Now I only do what I enjoy.
You recently deleted all Instagram posts except for one photo to which you write: "Think, sort, get in touch". What's that all about?
Heindle: Social media just haven't been good for me lately. You look in there all day and see what people are doing, what mean things they write to you. I just have a few things that I have to process in my head at the moment. Instagram isn't good for me either. I don't want to do anything more for now, but I don't know for how long. I don't feel like this daily pressure anymore, where I always ask myself: "What is he doing right now? What are they writing?" It's gotten to be too much for me. People only see what's happening on social media and think you're fine. No one knows what's really going on in your soul. And the thing is, you always give so much and get so little in return.
So you're taking a general social media break?
Heindle: Definitely. I didn't just decide that. There was something that bothered me and burned in my soul. I'm not in the mood for that anymore. It just has to be now. Maybe there are other things to worry about besides hanging out on Instagram all day.
Was there anything specific that hurt you?
Heindle: Nothing as far as comments are concerned. The time is extremely difficult for me at the moment. I have a lot to work through and so much has happened in the last few years. It has absolutely nothing to do with me and Mona, everything is great with us. She also supports me in everything and stands by me. A lot of bad things have happened, as well as good things - things I really want to talk about, but I'm not ready yet. Maybe you can imagine a thing or two, but there were a lot of things from the past that broke me. Not so broken that I can't think anymore. But sometimes you just need more time to think about it.
Do you even seek medical help?
Heindle: No, it's just about myself. I want to take more time for other things and try to keep telling myself: "Hey, life is beautiful."
You have already gained some experience on German TV. Do you have any regrets about this?
Heindle: Yes, "Celebrity Big Brother". That was absolute bullying for me. I don't care about the format itself. I'm more concerned with how the residents treated me. I would never do that again. I had to chew on that for a long time because the situations were sometimes so absurd. The people all just played one show - you don't hear anything from them anymore. Except from Janine. She is a super cool person and always protected me.
The show didn't help my image either, rather it damaged it. I was just unlucky. I don't know if a lot of it was a set game or if everything was played. In the end you never know, and I don't want to know either.
In contrast, I did a lot of great formats, such as "Global Gladiators" in 2018 with Lucas Cordalis - that was one of my favorite shows. That's when I realized what I wanted to change.
Do you want to turn your back on reality TV completely or are you still holding it open?
Heindle: Reality is always such a thing. You can always do it differently. I'm talking purely about reality TV, where you might have to play each other off, like "Summer House of the Stars" or "Temptation Island" for couples. I would never take part in that. They can't even pay for it. Besides, I can't casually stand next to Hollywood actors and bang their heads on the other side. That doesn't fit at all. It's like eating Nutella with a pickle.
There will definitely be formats that are cool again. What I liked, for example, was "Grill den Henssler" or an experiment I did for Sat.1, in which Willi Herren was also there. That's reality too, just not this bullying reality, because I don't do that anymore. Of course that makes it even more difficult, because these are often the programs where you really earn money.
What has been your high point and low point in your life so far?
Heindle: The highlight of my life was when I completed my paramedic training. I've never held anything before. I then used the lockdown to do something for myself. This has always been my dream. I enjoy working in the ambulance and fire service. If you suddenly have to resuscitate someone, it's intense. It's really close to you, but you can help a lot of people and that gives me a lot in return. I was never someone who liked to learn. But then I suddenly had folders and books about anatomy and I just made it through my own diligence. That was my high point when I got my diploma at the end. No one can take that away from me now.
There have been so many low points in my life. I don't even want to say how many times I've thought: "I'm fed up with this life anymore". I was just finished. Sometimes you are in such extreme situations where you no longer know how to proceed. In most cases, you don't mean it that way. But I would never harm myself in my life.
What are you most proud of?
Heindle: That I've managed to go through life with some stability over time. I've had many low points that have been extremely intense. I'm proud of the fact that I managed to get out without any help. Sometimes I wonder how I managed to do that. I learned from many things. When I look at things from the past, such as "DSDS", I have to say: I was quite a snot. But today I'm not at all sorry for a lot of what I said because I was just young. I'm an old sack now. I do a lot of sport, I go to the gym four times a week. So in the end a lot went well and I'm proud of myself.
