Rıfat Özdemir, a Turkish citizen living in the province of Kayseri, has had to leave the city and move to live in Ankara after suffering an intense reaction on social networks and in the street after being compared to Jeffrey Epstein because of his physical resemblance. The social and psychological impact he has suffered due to the viral dissemination on social networks of a photo of him, compared to the American tycoon accused of sex trafficking and traffic of minors, has also led him to take the decision to change his physical appearance and not go out on the street.
In statements to Turkish media, Özdemir assured that his daily life has been seriously affected after images of him quickly spread on social media, going viral and provoking comments and comparisons that ended up transcending even to international platforms. The situation has reached a point where he claims to feel uncomfortable because of the constant stares from people when he walks down the street.
According to Özdemir himself, it all started when a relative of his shared a picture of him on social networks. From then on, the reach of the content grew unexpectedly, generating a psychological pressure that also had repercussions in his professional life, as the man works in interior design. Faced with the prejudiced attitudes he began to receive from his environment, he finally decided to leave Kayseri and move to Ankara, where he had lived before. There, he says, he wants to stay away from public exposure for a while to regain his calm.
Özdemir stressed that his physical resemblance to Jeffrey Epstein has led to his social isolation, so he asks people not to judge people on the basis of their appearance alone. His intention, he said, is to continue his new life in Ankara in a quieter environment and avoid having to go through a similar experience.
“You look a lot like Jeffrey Epstein“
“At first, my nephew noticed the resemblance and said to me, ‘Uncle, you look a lot like Jeffrey Epstein’. I didn’t even know who he was. Then I looked him up in the news and found out on social media. I don’t want to be compared to a man like that. I don’t want to be compared to that person. I am a normal citizen who goes about his life. There may be a resemblance, but mine is an unfortunate incident,” Özdemir himself told Turkish news portal HaberTurk.
“From now on, I plan to make all possible changes to myself, and I will do it. I will change my hairstyle, I will grow a beard. I won’t stop until I stop appearing in the news. I don’t like to wear a beard, but I’m considering it, even though I’ve never had one… I’ll give my hair another style, and I’ll try to get away from the resemblance to that man. But I don’t know how I will change my facial expression: my wrinkles and everything are exactly the same (as Jeffrey Epstein’s),” explained the Turkish man. “No one has cursed me or insulted me, but they look at me harshly. I can feel what they say by their looks. But I am not Epstein. Such evil people don’t come out of Kayseri“, he sentenced.
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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