“Take responsibility”
Gil Ofarim asks for a second chance
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A year has passed since Gil Ofarim admitted his anti-Semitism lie in court. He then largely withdrew from the public eye. Now he's speaking out again – trying to “win you and my life back.”
It has now been three years since Gil Ofarim invented his story that he was insulted in an anti-Semitic manner in a Leipzig hotel. The upheaval that the lie caused is still unparalleled today. At the beginning, when many people still believed the singer's descriptions, the outrage was just as great as later when the edifice of lies collapsed.
Last year, Ofarim had to stand trial in Leipzig. On the sixth day of the trial he finally admitted: “The allegations are true” – and thereby admitted that he had told the untruth. He told the hotel manager whom he falsely accused of making anti-Semitic insults: “I would like to apologize to you. I'm sorry.”
After that it became largely quiet around the musician. In April, Ofarim made headlines again – possibly out of financial necessity – publicly offering a few of his guitars for sale. It was also reported several times that he took his time paying a court-imposed fine of 10,000 euros to the Israelite Religious Community in Leipzig and to the sponsoring association of the Wannsee Conference House. However, in August it was confirmed that Ofarim had paid off his debt.
At least his financial one. Whether and how he can pay off the moral debt he has incurred remains an open question. Now Ofarim has gone on the offensive himself and, after a long period of radio silence, has uploaded a black and white clip of around three minutes long to his reactivated Instagram page.
“Not so easy”
“Hello everyone and Shalom. I've tried several times to record this video,” Ofarim explains at the beginning with a cautious tone. However, this is “not so easy”. That's why he wrote down his thoughts and is now reading them off the page. “I hope you forgive me.”
In the following remarks, Ofarim appears thoughtful and moved. At some points he pauses for a brief moment.
There was a “very widespread debate in the media” that “I caused through my behavior,” says Ofarim. “As a result, I disappointed and hurt a lot of people. I think everyone knows what I'm talking about,” he adds and continues: “I initially needed a certain amount of time for myself, but something like this can't be solved with an apology or with silence . I know that now.”
25 kilos lighter, no alcohol
The 42-year-old assures that he has dealt long and intensively with the allegations against him. He takes doubts and criticism of himself very seriously. “I take responsibility for what I did, beyond the legal and in every respect. Things that I regret and for which I am ashamed and for which I also atone,” said Ofarim.
In the past few months he has sought professional help and started working on himself. “25 kilos lighter and without a drop of alcohol, you see things much more clearly and take a closer look at yourself, even if you don't always like what you see,” says Ofarim. “It's a long road to rebuild trust and respect. I don't know if I'll succeed. But I want to try to win you and my life back,” he continues.
“Every person deserves a second chance,” says the singer. “I want to try that.” After thanking fans, family and friends for their support, Ofarim explains that he wants to focus on music again from now on. “For me, the best way to express something, process something and heal is to do what I love, what I use to touch people and what I do best,” he concludes. “Maybe hopefully soon,” he expresses the vague hope of regaining his footing as a singer. The uncertainty as to whether the public is ready to listen to him again clearly resonates.
