Hardy Krüger in the jungle: Honest questions about Gil Ofarim's scandal!

Hardy Krüger in the jungle: Honest questions about Gil Ofarim's scandal!

The curtain will soon rise on the new season of the RTL show “I'm a star, get me out of here!”, which begins on Friday, January 23, 2026. The actor Hardy Krüger is among the twelve prominent participants who face the harsh jungle life. Known for his roles in series such as “Not from Bad Parents” and “Rote Rosen”, Krüger is described as a creative freak who now wants to show his private side. In his youth he lived in Africa and therefore developed a special connection to a simple life close to nature. He was also an audience favorite as forester Stefan Leitner in the ZDF series “Forsthaus Falkenau”.

“I have respect for the jungle and its inhabitants,” says Krüger. Next Friday he will meet his roommates for the first time. Other participants include Simone Ballack, Mirja du Mont and the controversial musician Gil Ofarim, who made headlines for an anti-Semitism incident. Krüger plans to talk about Ofarim's past at the camp and ask him questions. His goal is to get an honest answer to the allegations made at the time, which later turned out to be false. Ofarim claimed in 2021 that he had been discriminated against in a Leipzig hotel because of his Jewish origins. However, the incident turned out to be fabricated, which significantly damaged his image.

A jungle full of emotions

The Jungle Camp is more than just a television event; it's an absolute pop culture phenomenon. Scientist Jan-Michael Rasimus from the DHBW Karlsruhe explained why formats like this are so successful. They offer viewers an escape from everyday life and promote social interactions both on television and on social media. Various psychological aspects make the camp exciting: the unpredictability, the clear distribution of roles and the emotional tension create an experience that captivates the audience. The humor and moderation by Sonja Zietlow and Jan Köppen also contribute to the show achieving high ratings for over two decades.

The coming season promises not only entertaining moments, but also deeper insights into the realities of the participants' lives. A good reason to tune in on Friday to get a taste of the first jungle air of 2026. Krüger and his colleagues are now on the threshold of an adventure that brings not only them, but also the audience into a head-on dialogue with current social issues.

In Austria and Germany all eyes will be on the televisions on Friday to follow the turbulent time in the jungle. Who knows what stories and conflicts will develop here? One thing is certain: Once again it will be shown that the jungle camp will provide a lot of conversation material this season too.

For the curious among the viewers, there is the opportunity to follow the show on RTL and in the RTL live stream on RTL+.

It seems that the season will not only offer entertainment, but also powerful discourse - a real highlight in trash TV!