Gil Ofarim Speaks Out: "I Took the Blame to Put an End to It"
Accepted responsibility to cease the ongoing activity
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After months of silence, German singer Gil Ofarim has finally broken his silence and spoken to RTL about the antisemitic allegation trial that rocked his career. In the interview, he discusses the three sentences that changed everything.
Last year, Ofarim went viral after sharing a video on Instagram claiming he was verbally abused in a Leipzig hotel due to a Star of David pendant on his necklace by a hotel employee. However, the Leipzig Public Prosecutor's Office later determined that the incident had not occurred as Ofarim had described.
After a lengthy trial in November 2023, Ofarim admitted to fabricating the antisemitic incident and apologized to the hotel employee. "It made me very ill, I never want to go back there," he now shares. He stayed silent during the trial, but eventually spoke three sentences: "The allegations are true. I want to apologize to you. I'm sorry."
Music News - "I'm Sorry" - Gil Ofarim's Breaking Silence
"The Ruin of My Career"
"I didn't speak during the trial, my lawyers told me not to. I was pressured, but also it was expensive," the singer explained. By confessing, the trial was immediately ended, and Ofarim was required to pay a fine. Apparently, his legal team had advised him that confessing would be the best way to put an end to the ordeal.
According to Ofarim, confessing to the lie was the best way to protect his career from further damage. "I took the blame to put an end to it. It was no longer possible, I could no longer," Ofarim said, hinting at the potential impact on his career and mental health.
But what exactly did he mean by that? It is unclear what Ofarim meant specifically by "the ruin of my career." It is possible that he meant that confessing to the lie would ultimately have a damaging effect on his reputation and the reputation of his music.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Recovery
After the trial, Ofarim spent eight months in a day clinic receiving treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol issues. In a previous Instagram video, he acknowledged seeking professional help and that he had given up alcohol. "25 kilos lighter and without a drop of alcohol, you see things much clearer and examine yourself more closely. It's a long road to rebuild trust and respect. Whether I succeed, I don't know, but I want to try," Ofarim said.
Now, Ofarim is ready to return to the stage and his musical career. He will give his first concert in Bochum this April.
Sources: ntv.de | csp
- Antisemitism
- Trauma
- Recovery
- Music
- Leipzig
- Gil Ofarim's employment policy shifted following the antisemitic allegation trial, with him admitting to fabricating the incident and apologizing to the hotel employee.
- In conversation with RTL, Ofarim revealed that he decided to confess to the lie in order to prevent further damage to his career, suggesting that the incident might have negatively affected his reputation and the reputation of his music.
- After the trial, Ofarim sought professional help for post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol issues, spending eight months in a day clinic before returning to the stage in Bochum this April.
