Greta Thunberg accused of ‘self-staging’ Twitter photo

The fallout from Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg’s Twitter photo is gaining momentum.

After tweeting this photo, Greta Thunberg was forced to back down and explain she had been sitting on the floor for only part of the journey.

A German minister has accused ecowarrior Greta Thunberg of “self-staging’’ a picture that dented her credibility, as the fallout from posting a photo of herself on the floor of a Deutsche Bahn train gathers momentum.

Franziska Giffey, the German minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth said Ms Thunberg’s claim that she had to sit on the floor, when the German train company said she had a seat in first class, cost Ms Thunberg “a few credibility points’’.

The fallout from Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg’s Twitter photo is gaining momentum. Picture: AFP

After tweeting a picture herself on the train floor, looking winsomely out the window and alongside two suitcases and three other bags, Ms Thunberg was forced to back down and explain she had been sitting on the floor for only part of the journey because a train from Basel had failed.

Ms Thunberg was on the return home to Sweden from a climate summit in Madrid, travelling north across Germany on the weekend.

She admitted she had had a seat “behind Göttingen’’.

“Of course that’s not a problem and I never said it would be one,’’ Thunberg said.

She added: “Crowded trains are a great sign because it means that there is a great demand for rail travel.”

Ms Thunberg’s account was backed up by a Swedish journalist who had written an exclusive story with the climate activist days before. Dagens Nyheter journalist Alexandra Urisman Otto said “we both sat on the floor in two trains … she sat on a regular seat from Göttingen, me and my colleague from Hannover”.

I travelled on the same trains as @GretaThunberg this weekend. We both sat on the floor in two trains (se video in link from the first one). She sat on a regular seat from Göttingen, me and my colleague @rogerturesson from Hannover. https://t.co/cSKO39m9Ug

— Alexandra Urisman Otto (@alexandra_u_o) December 16, 2019

Ms Thunberg, recently named as the 2019 Time Person of the Year shared Urisman Otto’s tweet, saying “since conspiracy theories are running high, here is what happened”.

“Media surprisingly seems to be more interested in a teenagers train travels than the fact that COP25 failed,” Ms Thunberg said.

“Sometimes it’s lucky that you are travelling with journalists who can confirm the story …”

A rail spokesman confirmed to the German newspaper BILD that Ms Thunberg was in first class between Kassel and Hamburg. Kassel is about 20 minutes down the line from Göttingen.

“According to our on-board staff, Greta Thunberg’s fellow passengers were already sitting there from Frankfurt,’’ the rail company said.

Frankfurt is more than 140km earlier in the trip.

One passenger called Nike Flatt told Die Welt of the goodwill of the train staff and the excitement among other passengers: “The train employees on the train were all very excited that Greta Thunberg was travelling.’’

She said “they pulled out a leg for her”, including bringing Ms Thunberg a chocolate bar iced with the words ‘lieblingsgast’ meaning favourite guest.

But Ms Flatt said Ms Thunberg looked exhausted and noted: “Greta just stared sadly at the floor.”

German minister Giffey, from the social democrat party, told Bild there was a problem with Ms Thunberg only part-telling the story: “Of course this is not a good situation. She didn’t publicly tell the second part of the story (that she had a seat) – she probably knew why.”

Ms Giffey added: “Sure, that’s a bit of self-staging. To a certain extent – as you can see from today’s debate – it costs a few credibility points.”

The row had started on Saturday when Ms Thunberg posted the artful picture noting: “Travelling on overcrowded trains through Germany. And I’m finally on my way home!’’

Traveling on overcrowded trains through Germany. And I’m finally on my way home! pic.twitter.com/ssfLCPsR8o

— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) December 14, 2019

Deutsche Bahn fired back: “Dear #Greta, thank you for supporting us railroad workers in the fight against climate change! We were pleased that you were on the ICE 74 with us on Saturday. And with 100 per cent green electricity.

“It would have been even nicer if you had also reported how friendly and competent you were looked after by our team at your seat in first class.”

Ouch... German Rail responding to Greta tweet: "Thank you for travelling with Deutsche Bahn... It would have been nice had you acknowledged how well and competently our team treated you in your First Class seat." ... 🍿🍿🍿 pic.twitter.com/hVInNJAZ5H

— Peter R. Neumann (@PeterRNeumann) December 15, 2019

Just days earlier Ms Thunberg had to clarify her statement that the climate movement would “put politicians against the wall”.

After an outcry Ms Thunberg said she had meant they should be held accountable, and explaining the saying was a common Swedish phrase and it hadn’t translated well into English.

She reiterated she was against any violence.