The Westin Leipzig is once again in the headlines
The news hit like a bomb - among others on social media. Singer Gil Ofarim posted a video and accused the Westin Leipzig of not serving him due to the fact that he was wearing a necklace with a Star of David.
A "Mr. W." had asked him to take off the chain. How shocked the "Let's Dance" winner was about this was written all over his face a few minutes after the incident. The image of the hotel has suffered another blow.
Meanwhile, it is reported that - apart from Gil's account - there are other reports about the incidents at the reception. In the counterstatement, it is said that the singer had been vulgar and had clashed with the staff. Whether the surveillance camera footage will provide clarity remains to be seen. What is certain, however, is that this is not the first time that an employee of the house has been accused of this kind. It was not too long ago that Patricia Kelly's manager reported something similar about the hotel. At that time, however, it was not about the exclusion of a certain religion, but about homophobia and racism.
The Westin Leipzig and the homophobia allegations from 2020
On the occasion of the recent incidents surrounding Gil Ofarim, the media again reported on an incident that allegedly occurred at the Westin Leipzig in 2020. At that time, Patricia Kelly's manager Pierco Vecchiolo booked a room. According to his descriptions, he complained to the staff because the bathroom was not properly clean.
He was then called a "dirty faggot" by the hotel manager. He was told to "goback tohisshitty countryas soon as possible. Even at that time, many were shocked by the accusations, which were quite serious.
When Vecchiolo complained further, at the chain's main headquarters, it was not followed by an apology, but by the imposition of a house ban. According to a report on RTL, which talks about the associated letter, it says that the hotel justified the house ban with the fact that Kelly's manager had "sustainably disturbed the hotel operation".
As a result, Vecchiolo is now barred from re-entering the building, he said.
What's next?
The video, in which Gil talks about what happened, spread like wildfire on social media. In the evening, several people gathered in front of the hotel to demonstrate for openness and tolerance.
In the meantime, the Westin Leipzig has issued an official statement. It says that the hotel is cosmopolitan and rejects "any form of intolerance, discrimination and anti-Semitism. Such behavior is not tolerated "in our hotel".
Mr. W." has now been suspended until the matter has been fully clarified.
However, due to the fact that there is now a counterstatement that contradicts the singer's accusations, it could even be that the case will have legal consequences. After all, many people have meanwhile given vent to their anger in the social networks. Some of them openly declare that they "never" want to check into the Westin Leipzig.
It could be a while before there is any clarity about what happened. Due to the singer's reaction, his wide reach and the fact that he does not give the impression of backing down in this matter, it can be assumed that an example could be made on the basis of the incident. If it turns out that Gil was indeed subjected to anti-Semitic insults at the Westin Leipzig, a house ban is unlikely to be enough to sweep the incidents under the rug.
Have you noticed? Desmond Tutu is already 90 years old.
I don't believe that in such an international hotel chain there should be such employees who talk about their guests in a racist way. There must be other reasons to claim something like that. It is not imaginable for me at all!