Recommendations of the Editorial team
Viewers will know that Ariel Hedinger has a loose mouth at the latest in the current one Jungle camp noticed. The 22-year-old Swiss woman attacks her fellow inmates like a fury, accusing one of them of “racism” and the other of being worthless. It hits Gil Ofarim particularly hard, even though he avoids any confrontation with the woman with the big mouth and the big mouth. Ariel has called him a “criminal” several times.
What’s going on there?
Ariel keeps talking about “the thing you did.” Undoubtedly she means the “Star of David scandal”, the false accusation that Ofarim admitted in court against an employee of the Westin Grand Hotel in Leipzig.
What you need to know is that Gil Ofarim does not have a criminal record after the end of the court case. Legally speaking, “criminal” is not a casual swear word. Apart from that: publicly calling someone a “criminal” without a legally binding conviction can be a criminal offense in Germany: insult (§ 185 StGB), slander (§ 186 StGB), slander (§ 187 StGB), if against better judgment.
What are the legal chances?
It is true that courts are often more generous when it comes to public disputes, especially when they occur in an entertainment or reality context, when no specific crime is named and the term is used more judgmentally than factually. In court, this could be viewed as an “entertainment dispute.”
In reality, Gil would probably have better chances against Ariel under civil law (cease and desist, reply) than under criminal law. In terms of criminal law, the chances increase if the statement was clear, repeated and factually false. In addition, there may be an insult to honor because criminal behavior is assumed. Especially on TV, what is not explained appears to the audience as a factual attribution.
A warning or cease and desist declaration remains possible, of course. “Criminal” twice on TV. Without explanation. Despite the lack of conviction, Ariel could face legal consequences. But would Gil Ofarim even want this attention after the camp ends? Both Ofarim and Ariel are still in the jungle. Maybe they’ll pull themselves together.
