Douwe Bob sues VVD Yeşilgöz leader for anti-Semitism post resulting in death threats

Singer Douwe Bob is taking VVD leader Dilan Yeşilgöz to court over a post on X in which she accused him of anti-Semitism. The singer received death threats after her post, resulting in him and his family having to leave the country to go into hiding. Bob wants Yeşilgöz to delete the post and publish a retraction, RTL Nieuws reports.

According to Bob, Yeşilgöz’s accusation is “unfounded and excessive” and “incited public rejection.” Despite several requests, Yeşilgöz has so far refused to retract her words or take the post offline.

The singer’s management called it “absurd” that they had to take this matter to court. “The fact that Yeşilgöz, as a prominent politician, continues to stand by her inappropriate post is improper and incomprehensible. Don’t let this become normal.”

Bob also filed charges of libel, slander, and insult against Yeşilgöz in July. The case is currently with the Public Prosecution Service (OM). “This concerns the violation of Douwe Bob’s honor and good name,” Bob’s lawyer Willem Jebbink said. “Dilan Yeşilgöz claimed that he is a Jew-hater, an anti-Semite, still one of the most serious accusations you can face.”

Yeşilgöz accused Bob of anti-Semitism after he pulled out of performing at Jom Ha, an annual football tournament for Jewish children in Amsterdam, at the last minute. Shortly afterward, the singer received death threats and decided to flee the country with his family. A 38-year-old man from Amsterdam is in custody for making the threats.

Douwe Bob is back in the Netherlands and performing again.

Yeşilgöz has been losing support among VVD voters. In an EenVandaag poll at the end of July, only 50 percent supported her as VVD leader, down from 77 percent in June. Many voters cited the row with Douwe Bob as the reason for their loss of confidence. Critical voters also said that Yeşilgöz is becoming too populist and that the VVD is turning into a “light” version of the PVV under her leadership.