Sarah Connor was supposed to sing at the RTL annual review “People, Pictures, Emotions 2022” on Sunday evening – and be one of the star guests. But then a cold forced her to cancel. Instead, she was briefly connected by phone, only a picture of her could be seen in the studio.
She explained Thomas Gottschalk: “It’s definitely a bad cold and that was kind of to be expected because everyone around me fell down in rows. I thought the whole time I’d get through it, but now it got me. I’m really sorry I can’t be there.”
A statement that should normally entail something like “Get well soon” from the interlocutor. But instead of wishes for recovery, Gottschalk brought a nasty saying: “I said to my employees: It was a shitty year, but there is also good news: Sarah Connor canceled.” He also reported on the reactions: “They all booed me, they were looking forward to you.” But he was also looking forward to seeing her, Gottschalk tried to put his statement into perspective.
But Gottschalk’s comment outraged Sarah Connor, as she lets her fans know in her Instagram story. “Ok, what was that?” Wrote the singer, next to a TV and a telephone emoji as an allusion to her live connection and the quote from Gottschalk. The slide also has the hashtags “RTL, you still have a lot to learn” and “I don’t have to put up with it”. With “old white men” she should mean moderator Gottschalk.
It’s good that the singer is confident and addresses this issue. Because that’s how she sensitizes her fans to it. But it would be even better if Sarah Connor (and everyone else) complained directly to Gottschalk next time or countered him – and not afterwards.
But why didn’t Sarah Connor fight back, but only complained to her Instagram fans afterwards? Was she too taken aback? Can’t think of a good counter? Didn’t she want to embarrass him? Did she only realize afterwards what he was actually saying?
It’s not even Gottschalk’s first faux pas in this regard: Already with “Wetten, dass…?” he addressed national soccer player Giulia Gwinn as “Giuliana”. Multiple times. She didn’t correct him either.
In any case, one thing is certain: as long as no one publicly expresses Thomas Gottschalk’s opinion or at least improves it, he will continue as before. Because Gottschalk does not have Instagram and is not known for using other social media much. He doesn’t seem to care much what is said or written about him there.
“Now that I’m on the road with autumn blonde hair, I won’t change anymore,” he said recently in the stern interview. And: “I always have to expect a shitstorm today, but I can take it.”
