Thick atmosphere between Hertha and a sworn fan! The capital club has banned a long-time member from using a battle cry in connection with the club. Hertha BSC no longer wants the use of the club slogan “HaHoHe” in conjunction with the addition “and fat booty”.
The office initially allowed Hertha member Michael Bugenhagen to use it on behalf of an official fan club. He registered the club six months ago – and according to his own statements, initially received permission from the Hertha BSC club.
Hertha bans fan slogan for fan club because of Nazi connection
But now, according to Bugenhagen, a letter from a law firm that represents Hertha BSC came to his house. He was banned from using the Hertha battle cry “HaHoHe” in conjunction with “and fat Bette” for a fan club. A query from KURIER to Hertha’s press office initially went unanswered.
The club also called on fans on social media to stop using “HaHoHe” in conjunction with “fat booty”. “We don’t want to assume anyone has bad intentions when using this phrase,” says a post on the short message service X (formerly Twitter) and on Instagram. “However, we want to educate and raise awareness regarding the values of our association, our code of ethics and the background to this statement.”
The expression “fat booty” has a “war connection with raids” and is part of right-wing extremist vocabulary when used together with the Nazi slogans “Heil, Sieg” or “Heil & Sieg”. “With the expression ‘…and fat booty’ in combination “These slogans are a war slogan from the Nazi era,” says Hertha on social media. Please ask that you no longer use the slogan and announce that you will delete comments immediately. “This is not compatible with our values and therefore has no place on our channels,” it continues.
Michael Bugenhagen is outraged
Michael Bugenhagen is outraged by the ban. “You’ve been saying the same thing for over 40 years… and then you get a letter from the lawyer,” he said in a stream on the video platform TikTok. There he streamed for several hours on Sunday evening and vented his anger. For him it was about points for his club. He distanced himself from National Socialist ideas. A query from the KURIER to the Herthaner has so far remained unanswered.
Many comments agree with him and find Hertha’s ban wrong and the approach excessive. “If that’s the case, Hertha shouldn’t play in the Olympic Stadium either,” says one. After all, this is also from the Nazi era. “Hertha should be ashamed,” wrote another.
Others, however, believe that Bugenhagen is definitely right-wing. Some are even calling for a stadium ban. On Instagram, comments that show understanding for the club and the ban are particularly marked with a “like”. Many fans thank the club for their clear commitment. “OK. Then not anymore. “It’s important to clarify something like this,” writes one fan. “No place for the right. HaHoHe,” wrote another.
