There are many other words that have intrinsic gender bias that are in the process of being addressed: manned, men at work, chairman, mankind, workmen, spaceman, postman, fireman, malestrom, etc
Since this is pedant's corner, can I point out the correct spelling of maelstrom, which has an etymology unrelated to sex, "derived from the Dutch maelstrom, modern spelling maalstroom, from malen (to grind) and stroom (stream), to form the meaning grinding current or literally "mill-stream", in the sense of milling (grinding) grain."(thank-you Wikipedia).
Or was Michael, not for the first time, having his tongue firmly in cheek?