Bernhard Hoëcker addresses backlash over gender-neutral language

German comedian Bernhard Hoëcker has commented on the ongoing debate regarding gender-neutral language. Speaking on the podcast ‘Zwischen den Zeilen’ with moderator Bettina Böttinger, Hoëcker noted that while he rarely faces direct demands to use gendered language in his daily life, a single instance of using the term ‘Gästin’ (female guest) triggered a sharp backlash.

Hoëcker reported that following the use of the term, he was met with the question, ‘Now I can’t listen to you anymore, are you left-green-infested now?’ He suggested that the conflict surrounding language has become highly politicized, noting that the tension often stems from those who fundamentally reject these linguistic forms rather than from those who actively use them.