Bar Refaeli
Bar Refaeli (Hebrew: בר רפאלי; born 4 June 1985) is an Israeli model, television host, businesswoman and actress. She is among the most internationally successful models to come from Israel,[11] appearing on the cover of the 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and being voted No. 1 on Maxim magazine's Hot 100 list of 2012. As a television host, Refaeli has hosted The X Factor Israel since 2013 and co-hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 in Tel Aviv.[12][13][14]
Bar Refaeli
4 June 1985
- Model
- television host
- businesswoman
- actress
3
1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Blonde[1]
Blue[1]
- Elite Model Management (New York)
- Marilyn Agency (Paris)[2]
- MP Management (Milan)[3]
- Premier Model Management (London)[4]
- Uno Models (Barcelona)[5]
- Scoop Models (Copenhagen)[6]
- Model Management (Hamburg)[7]
- Wilhelmina Models (Los Angeles)[8]
- PARS Management (Munich)[9]
- Stockholmsgruppen (Stockholm)[10]
Activism and charity[edit]
Refaeli participated in a campaign to help reduce the use of plastic bags in Israel.[59] In 2009, she led an unpaid campaign on behalf of the Israel Water Authority, to educate the public about water use and conservation.[60]
On 7 June 2013, Refaeli hosted a beach party in Tel Aviv for participants of Tel Aviv Pride, the city's gay pride parade.[61] In November 2013, she spoke out in support of legislation for civil marriages in Israel, as part of a campaign for the proposed Knesset bill.[62]
Refaeli hosted the closing ceremony for the 2017 Maccabiah Games in Latrun, Israel, on 18 July 2017.[63][64]
Controversies[edit]
Military service[edit]
As early as 2004, Refaeli received criticism in her country for avoiding its mandatory service in the army. At the time, fellow Israeli model Agam Rudberg said: "The way Bar Refaeli evaded army-service wasn't right. It's worth trying to serve in the army, and only if you don't feel good there to try to do something."[65]
In 2007, the YnetNews reported that Refaeli had evaded the draft by marrying family-acquaintance Arik Weinstein in 2003,[66] and divorcing him soon afterwards.[67] Military service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is mandatory in Israel for unmarried secular Jewish women over the age of 18.[68]
The Israeli Forum for the Promotion of Equal Share in the Burden threatened to boycott the Israeli fashion chain Fox if they hired her. The two sides reached a compromise in which Refaeli agreed to visit injured IDF soldiers whenever she was in Israel, and actively encourage army enlistment.[69] Refaeli later said, "I don't regret not enlisting, because it paid off big time. That's just the way it is: celebrities have other needs. I hope my case has influenced the army."[70] She also said: "Israel or Uganda, what difference does it make? It makes no difference to me. Why is it good to die for our country? What, isn't it better to live in New York? Why should 18-year-old kids have to die? It's dumb that people have to die so that I can live in Israel."[67]
In 2009, while speaking in support of enlisting, fellow Israeli model Esti Ginzburg also criticized Refaeli for evading military-service.[71][72] Two years later, Refaeli was featured on the cover of Italian GQ's war-themed May 2011 issue.[70] Refaeli's avoidance of military service was again raised in 2013, this time by IDF Brigadier General Yoav Mordechai, who criticized the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for casting her in a 2013 advertisement. Mordechai maintained that the use of Refaeli as an "official representative of Israel" sent a "negative message" to Israeli society.[73]
Ever since 2014, during the IDF's Operation Protective Edge (2014 Gaza War), Refaeli has frequently expressed solidarity and appreciation of fellow Israeli citizens who have been serving in the Israeli military while posting on her social network accounts; one of which was done by simply sharing her own photos hugging young and cheerful combat Israeli troops.[74][75] She has also been defending her native Israel online from international Pro-BDS and Pro-Palestinian artists and celebrities against various allegations on Israeli policy.[74][75]
Tax-evasion[edit]
In late 2015, Refaeli was accused of concealing millions of shekels of annual income, despite an estimated net worth of US$20 million in 2015.[15] It was revealed she had recently bought a NIS 15 million apartment in Tel Aviv, as well as a NIS 2.5 million apartment for her younger brother. On 16 December 2015, Israeli tax authorities in Tel Aviv detained her and her mother overnight for questioning related to potential tax evasion; she was accused of failing to pay income tax on two vehicles that she received as compensation for posing in pictures with the vehicles, and for evading taxes by disguising her Israeli residency by renting a luxury apartment in Tel Aviv through relatives.[76]
On 3 January 2019, it was announced that Refaeli was suspected of tax-evasion and was facing a possible indictment along with her parents.[77][78] On 22 April 2019, her appeal was rejected and she was ordered to pay taxes on concealed income of $4.5 million[79] which, according to a report in Haaretz, could amount to "tens of millions of shekels".[80]
In June 2020, as a result of a plea deal on tax-evasion charges, Refaeli was sentenced to 9 months community service, ordered to pay a fine of $720,000, as well as repaying back taxes of $2.3 million. Her mother was jailed for 16 months and also fined.[81][82]
Identity theft[edit]
In 2016, Refaeli lodged a police complaint for identity theft after a news item on Calcalist[83] linked her to suspicious money transfers involving Amir Bramly, based on leaked banking correspondence.[84] Bramly sued the Calcalist reporter in relation to the media coverage.[85]
Personal life[edit]
In November 2005, Refaeli began a relationship with American actor Leonardo DiCaprio after meeting him at a party in Las Vegas for members of U2.[86] In the course of their trip to Israel in March 2007, the couple met Israeli President Shimon Peres and visited her hometown of Hod HaSharon.[87] The relationship ended in June 2009.[88] In 2010, numerous reports indicated that their romance had been rekindled,[89][90] but in May 2011, it was reported that they had ended their romantic relationship and would remain friends.[91] She married Israeli businessman Adi Ezra on 24 September 2015 in Israel.[92] They have two daughters, born in 2016 and 2017, and a son born in 2020.[93][94]
