Call Her Daddy Episode Sparks Backlash Over Celiac Disease Remarks

During the May 20, 2026 episode of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, host Alex Cooper invited comedian Robby Hoffman to discuss “allergic to gluten.” Hoffman responded, “No, it can’t be done. It can’t be done,” and later asked to “see the outbreak” of celiac disease by offering a roll of bread. Both Cooper and Hoffman suggested that gluten intolerance “feels kind of recent” and compared a hypothetical reaction to the swelling scene in Will Smith’s 2005 comedy *Hitch*. The segment prompted a wave of criticism from listeners, many of whom highlighted that May is Celiac Awareness Month.

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Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition in which ingestion of gluten triggers immune-mediated damage to the small intestine. The Mayo Clinic defines it as distinct from an allergy. The condition can lead to malnutrition, bone loss, infertility, and an elevated risk of intestinal lymphoma when untreated. Public awareness has grown since the tissue transglutaminase blood test was introduced in 1997, enabling large-scale screening.

• Approximately 1 % of the U.S. population (about 1 in 133 people) has celiac disease.

• Up to 83 % of those affected remain undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.

• Cancer risk associated with celiac disease is linked to chronic, untreated gluten exposure rather than isolated incidents of ingestion.

• Alex Cooper – Host of “Call Her Daddy.”

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• Robby Hoffman – Comedian and guest on the episode.

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• Listeners – Social-media users on X (formerly Twitter) and other platforms who voiced criticism.

• Medical experts – Referenced via Mayo Clinic information and general commentary on disease risks.

• Gabby Windey – Mentioned in the episode’s broader discussion but not central to the controversy.

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Medical experts reiterated that celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder, not a preference or trend, and that its complications arise from sustained gluten exposure. Commentators noted that the perceived recent rise in diagnoses reflects improved testing rather than a new epidemic. The Washington Times AI Ethics Newsroom provided contact information for further inquiries but did not issue an editorial stance.

Listeners described the hosts’ remarks as dismissive and harmful. One commenter wrote, “I don’t eat gluten because I have an autoimmune disease and like not dying of colon cancer. Not because it’s trendy or cool.” Another added, “To even joke about people faking an autoimmune disease is one thing but to flat out call us fakers?? WE COULD GET CANCER FROM EATING GLUTEN.” Critics also challenged the claim that celiac disease is a recent phenomenon, emphasizing that diagnostic advances, not a sudden emergence, explain higher detection rates.

The hosts asserted that gluten intolerance “feels recent,” while multiple commenters and medical history point to longstanding prevalence, with increased diagnosis due to the 1997 blood test. No direct response from Cooper or Hoffman’s representatives was obtained at the time of reporting.

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• “No, it can’t be done. It can’t be done,” — Robby Hoffman, Comedian

• “It does feel kind of recent, huh? No one was allergic to gluten in our classes [growing up],” — Alex Cooper, Podcast Host

• “I don’t eat gluten because I have an autoimmune disease and like not dying of colon cancer. Not because it’s trendy or cool,” — Anonymous X user

• “To even joke about people faking an autoimmune disease is one thing but to flat out call us fakers?? WE COULD GET CANCER FROM EATING GLUTEN. WE EXPERIENCE FERTILITY ISSUES. not to mention the higher risk for falling ill to other immune diseases, malnutrition, anemia, mental health disorders, and so much more.” — Anonymous X user

• “It’s ’new’ because people didn’t understand it like we do now,” — Anonymous X user

The controversy has prompted calls for the podcast to provide accurate information about celiac disease and for guests to receive medical briefings before discussing health topics. Observers anticipate further dialogue on social media and possible statements from the show’s producers addressing the backlash.