A resident of Kayseri, Turkey, has decided to relocate to the capital city of Ankara following intense public pressure and harassment due to his physical resemblance to the late American financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that Rifat Ozdemir made the decision after his daily life became increasingly difficult due to the reactions of local citizens and social media users.
Ozdemir shared on social media that the constant stares and unpleasant comments from strangers in public spaces reached an unbearable level. "I am tired of all this, of the looks from passers-by. I am going to Ankara, and I will not leave the house for a week until the noise dies down," Ozdemir stated, adding that the situation had turned his life into a nightmare.
According to international media reports, Ozdemir has pleaded with his compatriots to stop comparing him to Epstein. To distance himself from the association, he plans to undergo a significant image change, including growing a beard and changing his hairstyle. The case highlights the growing impact of social media trends on private individuals, where viral comparisons can lead to real-world social isolation or harassment.
Jeffrey Epstein, the individual Ozdemir is being compared to, was a high-profile American financier who died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. The case gained renewed global attention recently following the unsealing of court documents, which has led to increased public scrutiny and viral discussions across various social media platforms, including in Turkey.
