After confession

Gil Ofarim back on Instagram for the first time

Gil Ofarim, seen here at his trial for defamation and false accusation, posted on Instagram for the first time since his confession.(Bild: Hendrik Schmidt / dpa / picturedesk.com)

Musician Gil Ofarim has reappeared in public for the first time since the end of his trial for invented anti-Semitism. On Wednesday, a video appeared in his story on his otherwise orphaned Instagram page in which he plays the guitar - with glasses and a new short hairstyle.

"Countdown is on!... Thursday 6pm!... Video for the 'Spring Cleaning Guitar Sale'," read the caption above the video. What exactly this means was not clear at first.

Made a confession
Ofarim, who comes from and lives in Munich, withdrew from the public eye after he surprisingly confessed in his trial for defamation and false accusations in November last year. The proceedings against the 41-year-old were subsequently discontinued in exchange for a fine of 10,000 euros.

(Bild: instagram.com/gilofarim)

Ofarim had made accusations of anti-Semitism against a Leipzig hotel in a video in October 2021. In the video, Ofarim described how the hotel manager had asked him to remove his Star of David necklace so that he could check in.

Gil Ofarim, seen here at his trial for defamation and false accusation, posted on Instagram for the first time after his confession.(Bild: Hendrik Schmidt / dpa / picturedesk.com)

The video went viral on social networks. The musician later pressed charges, but the hotel manager also defended himself and reported the musician for defamation.

Harsh criticism
Major doubts about his account then also emerged during the trial against the son of 60s star Abi Ofarim (1937-2018), who eventually confessed and apologized to the hotel manager, who appeared as a co-plaintiff: "I would like to apologize to you. I'm sorry."

Ofarim was sharply criticized for inventing the anti-Semitic incident in the hotel - including by the Central Council of Jews in Germany. Ofarim had lied not only to the public but also to the Jewish community. "In doing so, Gil Ofarim has caused great harm to all those who are actually affected by anti-Semitism."