The termination of the legal actions against Ofarim has been declared.
Gil Ofarim, a Jewish singer, accused a Leipzig hotel of antisemitic behavior, alleging the manager requested him to remove his Star of David chain to check in. After facing trial, Ofarim admitted he fabricated the incident. The court imposed a fine, which he paid late, resulting in the case being closed.
The court proceedings against Gil Ofarim, accusing him of spreading false information about a David star incident in a Leipzig hotel, have come to a close following the late payment of a fine. This decision was made by the 6th Criminal Chamber of the Leipzig Regional Court, as confirmed by a court spokesperson. The costs associated with the trial will be covered by the state treasury, with Ofarim responsible for his own legal defense costs and those of the co-defendant.
In October 2021, Ofarim shared a video accusing a Leipzig hotel of antisemitism, describing an incident where the manager requested him to remove his Star of David chain before checking in. The video gained traction on social media, and Ofarim subsequently filed a complaint. However, the hotel manager denied the allegations and counter-sued the musician for defamation. During the trial in November 2021, Ofarim admitted to the court, "The allegations are true." He later apologized to the hotel employee, stating, "I'm sorry."
Initially, the Leipzig Regional Court provisionally dismissed the defamation and false accusation charges against Ofarim. However, a fine of 10,000 Euros was imposed, with half being allocated to the Israelite Religious Community of Leipzig and the other half to the House of the Wannsee Conference memorial and education center in Berlin. It was only after an extension of the payment deadline that Ofarim finally settled the fine.
"Utterly Shameless"
Ofarim's false claim sparked controversy and backlash. Comedian Oliver Pocher, for instance, expressed his disappointment on Instagram in November, stating, "What a shame, especially in these times when anti-Semitism is a significant issue." He considered Ofarim's actions as "utterly shameless." Actress and author Susan Sideropoulos, who is Jewish, echoed Pocher's sentiment, expressing disappointment at individuals who exploit serious issues like anti-Semitism to gain attention.
Following the trial, Ofarim retreated from the public eye but announced a comeback in April, sharing plans to return to music and work on a new album on Instagram.
The false accusation of antisemitic behavior by Gil Ofarim towards a Leipzig hotel, involving the request to remove his Star of David chain, stirred up strong reactions in the public. Celebrity comedian Oliver Pocher expressed his disappointment on social media, calling Ofarim's actions "utterly shameless".
Despite the controversy surrounding his fabricated incident, Ofarim continues to show an interest in music, announcing his plans for a comeback and working on a new album.
