Several weeks ago German Jewish singer Gil Ofarim's claimed that he was refused service by a hotel in Leipzig, Germany because he wore a Star of David pendant, sparking outrage across Germany and even criminal proceedings.
However, on Sunday, German news outlet Bild published security footage from the hotel that showed Ofarim was not wearing any pendants when he approached the hotel receptionist. The paper also said that the police investigated the matter and found no conclusive evidence that the singer's allegations were true.
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The 39-year-old singer – who has dual Israeli and German citizenship – had posted a video on Instagram in which he said he was asked to remove his necklace to get a hotel room at the Westin Leipzig.
In the video, Ofarim claimed customers who arrived at the hotel after him were admitted earlier. When he inquired why, another client told him to "take off the star." Later, at least one hotel employee told him the same, or so he claimed.
The video – titled "Antisemitism in Germany 2021" went viral with and hundreds of protesters gathered outside the hotel that evening carrying signs with the Star of David, the Israeli flag, and even the Muslim crescent.
Der Musiker Gil Ofarim (vorbestraft wegen Körperverletzung) hat sich die ganze Geschichte über einen antisemitischen Rauswurf wegen seines Davidsterns offenbar nur ausgedacht. Auf einem Überwachungsvideo ist zu sehen, dass er diesen im Hotel überhaupt nicht getragen hat. pic.twitter.com/DA0Jzujhge
— Gegenmeinung ?? (@GegenmeinungX) October 16, 2021
In Sunday's Bild piece, it was further reported that in a conversation with the police, Ofarim could not recall whether he wrote a Star of David while in the hotel. In the video he posted on Instagram – which he filmed outside the hotel immediately after the incident – he can indeed be seen wearing it.
In any case, when confronted with the alleged fabrication, Ofarim said that it was of secondary importance whether he actually wore the pendant because as a popular singer in Germany he often appeared wearing the Star of David pendant, and the public, therefore, knew that he was Jewish.
After the Bild report, the receptionist whom Ofarim accused of antisemitism filed a lawsuit for libel.
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