# Omar Harfouch

Omar Harfouch (Arabic: عمر حرفوش; born 20 April 1969 in Tripoli, Lebanon) is composer, and a businessman. Owner of a communications group in Ukraine, he is known in France for his participation in the reality show I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of here! and for his many appearances at jet set parties, in videos, and in celebrity magazines. He is a regular donor and guest at AMFAR charity dinner in Cannes. Co-owner of the international TV channel HDFashion & LifeStyle. Owner of the French magazine Entrevue.

## Career in Ukraine

Omar Harfouch is of Lebanese origin. In Kyiv, he and his brother Walid Harfouch own the Supernova media group which includes the FM radio in Ukraine, radio Supernova. He is the publisher and editor of Paparazzi, a magazine in Russian.
Declaring that "the world of fashion needed a revolution," he and Walid founded a Geneva-based company in charge of organizing beauty contests in Ukraine, in which the jury is composed of Internet users and voters.
In 2023, Omar Harfouch, together with his wife, Yulia Harfouch, co-founded the international TV channel HDFashion & LifeStyle.

## Career in France

He became known to the general public in France in April 2006, when he took part in the reality show I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of here! for the benefit of Reporters Without Borders. During the show, he became the center of a controversy when he said he was a victim of "racist remarks" (he has black skin) of Marielle Goitschel, who in turn claimed to have treated him as "just a shrimp" (minus in French).
He organized the Miss Europe competition with Endemol, initially presented on the French TV channel TF1, but the channel decided to sell it.
In May 2006, after participating in the radio broadcast of Cauet dechire on Fun Radio, he filed a complaint against Cauet for defamation and racial abuse for statements uttered during the show and published by the magazine Entrevue in July 2006. A few months later, Cauet was found guilty of public defamation of an individual and sentenced to a 500 euro fine and one euro in damages. including two against Geneviève de Fontenay, and four against Entrevue.
In October 2006, he released a book, Mystères, scandales et... fortune (Mysteries, Scandals and... Fortune). The same year, he released his autobiography, Omar Harfouch: Confessions of a millionaire.
In 2023, Omar became the owner of the French magazine Entrevue.

## Concert Activities
### Concert for Peace in Paris and the United Nations

On September 18, 2024, Omar Harfouch presented his "Concerto for Peace" at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris. The event, which featured the Béziers Méditerranée Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Mathieu Bonnin, was designed to promote global peace and unity through music. On September 20, 2024, the same concert was performed at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, emphasizing Harfouch's commitment to using music as a humanitarian tool.

### Historic Concert in the Vatican

On November 15, 2024, Omar Harfouch performed his "Concerto for Peace" in the Sistine Hall of the Vatican Apostolic Library. This historic event marked the first-ever concert held in this sacred space. Following the performance, Harfouch was awarded the Vatican's 2025 Jubilee Medal by Pope Francis in recognition of his contribution to promoting peace through music. The event was attended by representatives of some of the world's most prominent libraries.

### Dubai Opera Performance

In December 2024, Harfouch brought his "Concert for Peace" to the Dubai Opera. The event, which celebrated unity and harmony, featured a special appearance by UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Orlando Bloom. The concert included a 3D installation symbolizing the warmth and cultural unity of the Middle East, alongside a surprise performance by Chico & the Gypsies. This event underscored Harfouch's dedication to using music as a bridge between cultures and as a medium for promoting humanitarian initiatives.

## Public activity

Harfouch launched a large-scale anti-corruption project in Lebanon. Together with members of the European Parliament, he allegedly discovered in foreign accounts, and also claims to have seized the first $150 million stolen from the Lebanese budget.
Omar Harfouch was recognized for his work "Save a life, you save humanity" during the 11th edition of the CAEL AWARDS in Dubai. The piece was presented in various significant venues, including the European Commission in Brussels, highlighting themes of harmony and solidarity.
On September 5, 2024, during the 81st Venice International Film Festival, Omar Harfouch was honored with the Best Achievement for Peace Award. The award was presented by actor Kevin Costner in recognition of Harfouch's dedication to promoting human rights and social causes.
On November 15, 2024, Harfouch performed his "Concerto for Peace" in the Sistine Hall of the Vatican Apostolic Library, marking the first time a concert was held in this sacred venue. Following his performance, he was awarded the 2025 Jubilee Medal by Pope Francis.

## Political activity

Omar Harfouch has campaigned for the establishment of a secular third republic. His positions have been reported in many Lebanese media. He will go as far as announcing the creation of a Lebanese government in exile to get things moving. Then, he will run for the general elections on 15 May 2022 in the Tripoli constituency. He will not be elected, which will not prevent him from continuing to advocate for "a non-confessional elective system that guarantees greater representativeness and greater freedom to Lebanese citizens.
From the end of 2022, he will multiply his trips and international meetings to defend his institutional reform project. In Italy, he received the support of MP Roberto Bagnasco (Forza Italia) who, during a colloquium on 9 March 2023, declared: "The attention we pay to Lebanon is dictated by our desire to facilitate its transition to a third republic, more liberal, which goes beyond the confessional scheme, as advocated by our friend Harfouch." He also received the support of Carol Moseley-Braun, the first African-American woman to be elected to the US Senate. This close friend of US President Joe Biden said at a press conference on 22 February 2023 that she would speak to the US President about Omar Harfouch and his Third Republic project."
Omar Harfouch has also been noted for his statements on Israel. Following the historic agreement on the maritime border between Lebanon and Israel, he advocates a lasting economic peace and campaigns for peaceful relations between the two countries.