In 2019 Time magazine named Greta Thunberg its youngest-ever Person of the Year, as world leaders and commentators all hastened to bask in the reflected glory of this new environmental star. Thunberg’s powerful influence was even dubbed the “Greta effect” thanks to thousands of students remaking themselves in her climate warrior image. But, five years on, that blind hero worship of an increasingly militant Thunberg looks naïve at best and dangerous at worst.

Speaking at a rally in the German city of Mannheim on Friday, Thunberg, 21, was a far cry from that angelic Time cover, which followed a keynote speech delivered to the UN in September 2019. “F--- Germany,” she said into the microphone on Friday, before descending into giggles as the 700-strong crowd of protesters whooped and clapped. Thunberg added: “And f--- Israel.”

The event was billed as a Palestine and climate movement solidarity rally, but the profanity-spewing Swede seemed most intent on stoking anger towards other nations. Thunberg was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize five times between 2019 and 2023. She probably shouldn’t hold out hope for a sixth nod.