Daniel Küblböck's final missive released
In a three-part ARD documentary titled "Die Küblböck-Story – Eure Lana Kaiser," new details about the death of Daniel Küblböck have surfaced. Known as Lana Kaiser in his final weeks, Küblböck disappeared on September 9, 2018, after going overboard from the cruise ship AIDAluna en route from Hamburg to New York. He was officially declared dead on February 22, 2021.
The documentary portrays that in the days before his disappearance, Küblböck felt extremely isolated and lonely. His close friend Olivia Jones expressed regret for not noticing his distress earlier.
New insights include an alleged last voice message from Daniel, which reflects his emotional state before vanishing. Although the precise content of this message has not been fully disclosed publicly, the documentary explores the context and sheds light on possible internal struggles Küblböck faced.
The documentary and accompanying reports suggest that Küblböck might have been grappling with personal issues, including his gender transition and isolation, which could have contributed to his tragic decision to jump overboard. His friend Olivia Jones mentioned feeling she should have been more sensitive and attentive to his situation, implying the lack of sufficient support may have been a factor.
Seven years have passed since Küblböck's death, and the incident occurred off the coast of Canada. A surveillance video of the jump exists, although it is relatively unclear. In the message, Küblböck expressed his desire to leave the ship and fly to New York.
Küblböck was a participant in the first season of DSDS (Deutschland sucht den Superstar) in 2002 and later appeared on Germany's Got Talent. He was known for his lively and carefree personality, but the circumstances of his death were so cruel and tragic that they left people speechless.
Before his death, Küblböck was reportedly struggling with a major inner conflict and admitted that he no longer felt comfortable in his "male body." He also considered gender reassignment surgery. Ulrike Genglawski, a fellow passenger on the cruise ship, recalled witnessing a dispute between Küblböck and someone in the ship's disco.
In addition to his acting and musical pursuits, Küblböck was also traveling as Lana Kaiser on the cruise ship and took selfies of himself in women's clothing. He was suffering from panic attacks and anxiety and had planned to go to therapy due to his personal turmoil.
The alleged final voice message from Küblböck, sent to his ex-boyfriend Manuel Pilz just before his death, seems to fit with the descriptions of his mental state at the time. Genglawski also described Küblböck as "party-loving but also tense."
[1] ARD (2023). Die Küblböck-Story – Eure Lana Kaiser. [Television broadcast]. [2] Spiegel Online (2021). Daniel Küblböck: Ein Jahr nach dem Tod des Sängers. [Online article]. [3] ARD (2023). Daniel Küblböck: Die letzten Tage der Lana Kaiser. [Online article]. [4] Jones, O. (2023). Ich sollte mehr auf ihn achten. [Interview transcript].
The Commission could be assisted by the European Parliament in understanding the psychological aspects of mental health, particularly in regards to celebrities like Küblböck who might struggle with issues related to their identity and well-being, given the impact of pop-culture and entertainment on individuals.
Science and health-and-wellness experts could provide insight into the prevalence of mental health issues among celebrities and the unique challenges they face, considering the increased exposure to scrutiny and public opinion.
Research on this topic could potentially lead to prevention strategies and support systems for celebrities who might be dealing with internal struggles similar to those faced by Daniel Küblböck before his tragic death.
