A German singer has admitted in court to lying when he accused two hotel employees of anti-Semitism in a viral video posted online two years ago, AFP reports.

Gil Ofarim, 41, had shared an emotional account on social media in October 2021 accusing staff at an upscale hotel in the eastern city of Leipzig of asking him to “put away” a Star of David pendant before checking in.

The post was shared thousands of times, raising alarm about resurgent anti-Jewish sentiment in Germany eight decades after the end of the Holocaust.

However, investigators in a probe found “no evidence” to back up the allegation which led to the suspension of two hotel employees, leading to defamation charges against Ofarim last year.

In surprise testimony on Tuesday, Ofarim admitted to the accusations, saying he had made up the story and asking the hotel staff for forgiveness.

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