What really happened on the evening of October 4, 2021? Negotiation over anti-Semitic incident begins in light of current events
Was it an anti-Semitic “diss” or a premature slander?
The singer Gil Ofarim, who exposed a hotel employee in Leipzig in October 2021 for allegedly making anti-Semitic statements on his Insta channel, now has to defend himself. His almost two-minute video was viewed over four million times. And it caused a real media storm at the time; also beyond Germany…
Two years later, the incident in the Westin Hotel is of course also viewed in the light of the rapidly increasing incidents of anti-Semitism in the wake of the Gaza war; which the judges in turn have to ignore for the moment. The trial begins in Leipzig today (November 7th) – the musician entered the hall with a Star of David chain around his neck.
At the time, Gil Ofarim had presented in detail, so to speak live and in color, what had just (allegedly) happened in the said hotel lobby.
His view of things was as follows: During check-in, he asked why hotel guests behind him in the long queue had been moved forward. Someone in the pack then shouted that he should put away his necklace with the Star of David.
A hotel employee confirmed this “rant” and in turn confirmed that he could then check in immediately.
The video exploded virally and a wave of solidarity followed. Saxony’s Justice Minister Katja Meier (Greens) condemned the “open anti-Semitism” as “unspeakable and intolerable.” Saxony’s Economics Minister Martin Dulig (SPD) also apologized on behalf of the party. Many media outlets believed Ofarim’s account and tooted the same horn.
The rest is also well documented: the hotel put the employee on leave, who in turn filed a complaint against the singer. Six months later the lights flashed to “Everything is different!”
The local prosecutor’s office filed charges of “false suspicion and defamation” in April 2022. The chain with the Star of David in question cannot be seen in the hotel video recordings, nor do those present remember hearing the quoted statement.
What remains is this: Did a celebrity who didn’t check in quickly enough want to fluff himself up at the expense of employees? Or should everyday anti-Semitism be swept under the carpet here?
According to statements, Ofarim had already threatened to comment on social media at the reception. Minutes later, he was sitting in front of the front door and recording a mini-video of himself, which he published the next day.
Now the court must hear what really happened in the lobby. There is an accusation of false suspicion and slander against the hotel employee.
Their legal expert commented on this on ZDF: “That’s exactly what will matter in court: Did he claim something that was untrue and could he have known that it was false, that he was lying,” said Sarah Tacke.
Gil Ofarim himself recently gave an interview on this matter. Tenor: He will hardly be able to accept a verdict against him. After all, he stands firmly by his statements.