Internet: Old confession about slaps: Shitstorm against Gottschalk

In the middle of the advertising campaign for his new book, there is a stir about the first book by entertainer Thomas Gottschalk (74) – because in it he describes slaps in the face as an educational measure for his sons. Weather expert Jörg Kachelmann is partly responsible for this, who denounced it prominently on There was then a lot of criticism online about the former “Wetten, dass…?” presenter, but there were also understanding and supportive reactions.

Many commented on the two slaps in the face of Gottschalk’s sons described in the book “Herbstblond”, which was published in 2015, as out of the question and disgusting. Others, however, defended Gottschalk with reference to the educational methods common at the time – or argued that “a wad never hurt anyone.” Parents are prohibited from hitting their children in Germany: Since 2001, the Civil Code has enshrined the right of children to a non-violent upbringing, which includes not only physical punishment but also psychological injuries and other degrading measures.

Support from Hubert Aiwanger

Nevertheless, even Bavaria’s Economics Minister Hubert Aiwanger (Free Voters) jumped to Gottschalk’s side: “Dear Mr. Kachelmann, please light up your wood stove, make yourself a nice potato soup and don’t be so nasty to Mr. Gottschalk. I bet you will could be better?!” he wrote on X.

The discussion is sparked by a passage from the book “Herbstblond”, published in 2015, which is also incorrectly attributed online to Gottschalk’s new book “Unfiltered”, for which he is currently promoting. In “Herbstblond” Gottschalk describes how he once “smacked his son Roman uncontrollably because he dropped three scoops of vanilla ice cream in front of the ice cream counter.” He slapped his son Tristan because he committed the “sacrilege” of scratching a Beatles song on the record player in a boutique.

Gottschalk doesn’t have a guilty conscience: “I had to listen to serious accusations from my wife, because of course the guy ratted me out to her, and my fingerprints were pretty good on his cheek. I can’t remember anything like that as a child “To have had delicate skin,” the passage says. Gottschalk could not initially be reached for a comment on his current view of the events. This Wednesday evening he wanted to present his new book in Hamburg; It is supposed to be the first appearance as part of his reading tour. “Unfiltered” is Gottschalk’s third release after “Herbstblond” and “Herbstbunt” (2019).

Controversial statements have often been made

Gottschalk has recently caused a stir with controversial statements. Gottschalk emphasized that he no longer takes into account whether what he says is politically correct, with a view to his new book “Unfiltered”, which he wanted to present this Wednesday evening at the start of his reading tour in Hamburg. He announced that he wanted to live with the consequences of this attitude. “At my age you don’t have to be ‘cool’ anymore, I’ve been that way all my life.”

Most recently, the entertainer, who previously also appeared with men’s jokes, caused offense with statements about physical contact with female guests, for example with the Spice Girls at the end of the 90s. “I touched women on TV purely for work purposes. Like an actor who kisses in a film because it’s in the script. I won’t let that be accused of being an attack,” he told “Spiegel”. Nevertheless, he would leave it alone today.

In the same interview, with a view to the work ethic of Generation Z, he also said that he himself would never have thought of taking his work-life balance seriously straight after school. “You don’t have to have seen the world at that age. My mother let me travel to England when I was 17, but I missed out on expanding my worldview by visiting Latin America. I don’t regret that. I don’t regret the slap in the face either I got it. They didn’t harm me,” Gottschalk told “Spiegel”.