Celebrities show a clear edge towards Gil Ofarim
Following his confession that he made up the alleged case of anti-Semitism in a Leipzig hotel, various celebrities have turned their backs on Gil Ofarim. Some say they are sad and disappointed, others are angry and accuse the singer of audacity.
Gil Ofarim's confession of lying in the Leipzig district court is causing quite a stir. After a trial lasting several weeks, the singer has admitted that he only made up the accusations of anti-Semitism against a hotel employee in Leipzig. The first celebrity reactions were not long in coming.
Comedian Oliver Pocher, for example, commented on the surprising turn of events in the Ofarim case in an Instagram video. "What a shame. Especially nowadays, when anti-Semitism is such a huge problem," says Pocher. For him, Ofarim's action "can't be beaten in terms of audacity". Pocher believes that the singer made one TV appearance after another following the publication of his Instagram video in October 2021 was "an unparalleled PR tour". However, he had doubts about the musician's portrayal from the very beginning. Addressing Ofarim directly, he says: "I know you, you think you're a bit hornier than most of the others."
Julian F. M. Stoeckel, who had defended Ofarim at the time, was also disappointed. "It's not just about the fact that he lied, it's had a completely different impact," says the reality TV actor in the RTL interview. "It denigrates all victims who suffer from homophobia and anti-Semitism." Ofarim has caused "social damage" with this. He is certain that the singer is now facing a difficult time.
Sympathy for the hotel employees
Actress and author Susan Sideropoulos, who is Jewish herself, spoke to the Bild newspaper. Like most people, she believed Ofarim at the time. "It is incredibly sad and shameful that there are people who exploit major grievances and issues of suffering - such as anti-Semitism, racism and oppression in any form - to gain an advantage," the former "Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten" actress expressed her disappointment.
Oliver Pocher's ex-wife Alessandra Meyer-Wölden explains that she also took Ofarim's accusations at face value: "If someone says they were insulted in an anti-Semitic way, I have to take it seriously and stand by them. That's exactly why it's so disappointing. I've known Gil for a long time and I'm disappointed in him as a person," she says in an interview with the Bild newspaper. She is particularly sorry for the hotel employees "who have been accused of evil here".
Ofarim, who was charged with defamation, made a confession on Tuesday: "The allegations are true." He apologized to the hotel employee, who accepted the apology in court. Ofarim said that he had deleted the video he had published in October 2021. He also deleted his entire Instagram account at the same time.
Following the confession, the Leipzig Regional Court dropped the proceedings against Ofarim in exchange for a fine of 10,000 euros. The singer has agreed to pay 5,000 euros each to the Jewish Community of Leipzig and another association.
Source: www.ntv.de
