Defamation trial - Gil Ofarim: Expert believes his late father could have saved him from the trial
It's a question that is on the minds of many observers: Why did Gil Ofarim lie? And even more: why did he carry this lie around with him for two years, give numerous interviews and then defend it for six days of the trial?
Ofarim himself knew best that the events on October 4, 2021 at the Westin Hotel Leipzig did not happen that way. There was never any anti-Semitic discrimination, Ofarim was never asked to remove his chain with the Star of David before check-in.
In an interview with RTL, former "Bunte" editor-in-chief Patricia Riekel tried to find an answer to the "why" question. For her, the key lies in Ofarim's father, with whom she says she was friends: "To be honest, his father used to always be there and sorted out everything that was somehow problematic in Gil's life. He directed his son's life."
Gil Ofarim: relationship with his father was close
The successful singer Abi Ofarim died in 2018 after a long, serious illness. He even had to be placed in an induced coma beforehand. He was 80 years old. According to the "Jüdische Allgemeine" newspaper, "Dad was always the most important person" in Gil Ofarim's life. And 2018 was a year of crisis, as Gil Ofarim and his wife Verena separated and a dispute broke out over their two children.
While Verena Ofarim is said to be engaged again according to "Bunte", there is no public news about Ofarim's love life. Patricia Riekel also sees this as a possible reason: "Apparently there was no sensible person who shook him [Gil] and said: 'You, I love you, you're a great guy! But, now stop this act!"
For Gil Ofarim, the repercussions of his lie are not over yet. Not only is he likely to face a six-figure sum in legal fees. The Hotel Westin Leipzig also reserves the right to claim damages.
And there is no dad left to support him financially and morally.
Sources:"RTL","Jüdische Allgemeine","Bunte"
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In the same year of crisis, Gil Ofarim's father, close friend of former "Bunte" editor-in-chief Patricia Riekel, passed away. Riekel believed that the absence of a supportive figure like Gil's father could have contributed to his continued lies. (Gil Ofarim: relationship with his father was close, the father passed away in 2018)
With his father no longer able to provide financial and moral support, Gil Ofarim is left to face the consequences of his defamation case, possibly having to pay substantial legal fees and damages to the Hotel Westin Leipzig. (For Gil Ofarim, the repercussions of his lie are not over yet)
Sources: "Bunte", "Jüdische Allgemeine", "RTL"
Source: www.stern.de
