Gil Ofarim
He is not surprised by the hotel employee’s defamation report
Gil Ofarim (left) described the incident in a hotel in Leipzig as a guest of Steffen Hallaschka.
© imago / Future Image / RTL / Stefan Gregorowius
Gil Ofarim spoke about the anti-Semitism incident on “stern TV”. The musician is not surprised that he is accused of defamation.
Gil Ofarim (39) spoke about the anti-Semitic incident in a Leipzig hotel as a guest on “stern TV”. In an Instagram video the musician had reported that, according to his own statements, he was not allowed to check into the hotel because he was wearing a Star of David openly on a chain. His clip then went viral. Compared to moderator Steffen Hallaschka (49), the 39-year-old was not surprised that the alleged perpetrator had filed a complaint against Ofarim – for defamation.
According to Ofarim, the hotel employee had no other choice, because: “I don’t think he has the courage to say that I stand by my words.” As a result, he must inevitably accuse Ofarim of lying, as was done by the complaint. At the same time, Ofarim makes it clear that under no circumstances should the entire hotel staff be lumped together. Only two employees were involved.
Will he also file a complaint?
Ofarim was particularly shocked by two things about the incident: “I was alone, I had no one to help me. Nobody opened their mouths. I can’t imagine that no one heard that.” In addition, he cannot believe that such behavior in public “is possible in Germany.”
The two employees of the hotel have been released for the time being. Ofarim himself has not yet filed a complaint against anyone. Hallaschka wants to know from him whether he is considering doing this. “I spoke to my lawyer today on the phone, and he advised me to do so.”