Story By: Ana Marjanovic, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency: Newsflash
A hot-tempered German-Turkish influencer has revealed she is not bothered after having received death threats by conservative Turkish men over stripping naked for Playboy magazine.
Stunning Yeliz Koc, 28, was born to a German mum and a Turkish dad in Hanover, Lower Saxony. She shot to fame by slapping the Bachelor on the German version of the international television hit.
Now the mother-of-one has revealed having received abusive messages for posing naked for the German Playboy.
The model and television celeb told newspaper Bild: “They are telling me I’m a disgrace for our people. Some even say it would be better if I were dead.
“Many of those texts clearly come from Turks living in Germany. They’re so hypocritical!
“In my opinion, it’s important to do what you want to do, no matter where you’re from. Chase your dreams and try to achieve your goals!”
Yeliz – who has 563,000 followers on Instagram – caused the most controversial moment during the 2018 edition of German private broadcaster RTL’s Der Bachelor. Infuriated by the decision of Daniel Voelz to dismiss her, she smacked him on the cheek.
Her fellow contenders were left speechless while Daniel commented later on: “Her reaction confirms that I made the right decision. I don’t want to be together with a woman who acts that way.
“That’s no way to react. I think she’s occupied with something that happened in her past.”
Fuming Yeliz said in an interview with RTL shortly after the incident: “One slap wasn’t enough though. I’d have loved to properly punch him, using my fist.”
Yeliz argued she had been infuriated by Daniel’s decision to kick her out of the contest despite having kissed her on their private date.
The infamous scene helped Yeliz to become one of Germany’s most popular influencers. She briefly dated 30-year-old German film star Jimi Blue Ochsenknecht. The couple split up during her pregnancy with daughter Snow Elaine who is now seven months old.
Yeliz explained she and Jimi Blue would not communicate at all.
She said: “I hope things will improve. I want my daughter to know her dad. I still know how terrible it was to grow up without a father.”
She told Playboy: “Maybe I’m too indulgent to be in a relationship. I always try to ensure everyone’s doing fine. And it seems to me that I have a magnetic force of attraction on the wrong kind of guys.”
Yeliz has participated in various celebrity television productions ever since her controversial Bachelor appearance, such as “Battle of the Reality Stars” on RTL2.
Yeliz said: “I wanted to make a clear statement by doing a Playboy shoot. It’s important not to be ashamed of your body – also after having given birth.”
Speaking about the Turkish mentality, she said: “There are many different points of views. Not all of them feel that way.
“As far as I’m concerned, I prefer living a life of freedom. Maybe those who hate me are actually just longing to do the same.
“I’d get my sister to translate those hate-filled messages to me. I don’t understand a single word in Turkish.
“My parents broke up when I was three, that’s why I never learned the language.
Yeliz underlined: “I’m not bothered by these messages anyway. I can handle it. Some guys just won’t accept that I live by my own rules. I proved being a courageous woman.
“Looking back at my life, I’m grateful and content. I want to keep doing things that I enjoy.
“I love my different occupations and I’m looking forward to any upcoming experience.”
Yeliz told Playboy magazine: “I’ve always said how amazing a Playboy photo shooting would be. I said that a long time before I got famous.
“I never thought this would really ever happen. For me that’s like ticking my bucket list.
“Of course I was very nervous at first. But I soon felt quite comfortable. Doing this is like a dream come true.
“My sister and my mum – she is German – are extremely proud of me. I don’t know how my Turkish dad is feeling about it.
“I didn’t tell him in advance. I was unsure about discussing it with him. I planned to speak to him about it afterwards. I haven’t done so yet though.”
