Assi Azar

{{Infobox person

| name = Assi Azar

| image = ESC2019_-_Asi_Azar_(cropped).jpg

| caption = Azar during the Eurovision Song Contest 2019

| native_name = אסי עזר

| native_name_lang = he

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|06|10|df=y}}

| birth_place = Holon, Israel

| occupation = Television presenter

| yearsactive = 2004–present

| known_for = Hosting Big Brother - Israel, The Next Star and Eurovision 2019

| height =

| spouse = {{marriage|Albert Escolà Benet|11 April 2016}}

}}

Assi Azar ({{langx|he|אסי עזר}}; born 10 June 1979) is an Israeli television host and screenwriter. He is the creator of the romantic comedy TV series Beauty and the Baker (2013 - 2021) and co-creator of the new TV series, Metukim (2024 - present).

Biography

Assi Azar was born in Holon, Israel.[http://www.nrg.co.il/online/5/ART1/781/862.html Azar] on nrg.co.il {{in lang|he}} He is of Bukharan-Jewish and Yemenite descent.{{cite web|url=https://awiderbridge.org/assi-azar/|title=Assi Azar [TV Host] - AWiderBridge|date=8 October 2013|publisher=|accessdate=28 January 2019|archive-date=15 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915204157/http://awiderbridge.org/assi-azar/|url-status=dead}} In 2005, Azar came out as gay."[http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3066226,00.html Assi Azar comes out]", ynet, March 31, 2005. {{in lang|he}} Shortly after, he began to create the documentary film, Mom and Dad: I Have Something to Tell You. On 11 April 2016, Azar married his Spanish boyfriend Albert Escolà Benet at a ceremony in Barcelona.

Azar is an LGBT rights advocate. In 2009, he was listed among the most 100 influential gay people in the world by OUT Magazine.{{cite web| url= http://events.cornell.edu/event/assi_azar_israeli_tv_personality_and_gay_rights_advocate| publisher= Cornell University | title= ASSI AZAR: Israeli TV personality and gay rights advocate| date= Spring 2015| accessdate= 24 June 2015}}

In January 2022, the actor Yehuda Nahari alleged that Azar sexually harassed him during a job interview at Azar's home.[https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israeli-tv-star-and-eurovision-co-host-assi-azar-accused-of-sexual-assault-1.10517344 Israeli TV star and Eurovision co-host Assi Azar accused of sexual assault], Haaretz

Media career

He co-hosted Big Brother - Israel with Erez Tal until 2015 and The Next Star with Rotem Sela. He is also the creator of the romantic comedy TV series, Beauty and the Baker.

His first program was on the online show KIK. In 2004–2005 Assi co-hosted TV youth show Exit. Later he participated in the programs Good Evening with Guy Pines and The Champion: Locker Room, as well as the satirical programs Trapped 24, Talk to My Agent and reality series The Show which was cancelled after only two episodes due to bad ratings.{{Cite news |last=גאוני |first=יעל |date=2006-03-12 |title=לאחר שתי תוכניות: ערוץ 10 מוריד את התוכנית "THE SHOW" |url=https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1000070587 |access-date=2024-04-05 |work=Globes |language=he}}

Azar hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 in Tel Aviv alongside Lucy Ayoub, Erez Tal and Bar Refaeli.{{cite web|last1=Zwart|first1=Josianne|title=Bar Refaeli, Erez Tal, Assi Azar & Lucy Ayoub to host Eurovision 2019!|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/hosts-2019-bar-refaeli-erez-tal-assi-azar-lucy-ayoub|website=eurovision.tv|date=25 January 2019 |accessdate=25 January 2019}} It was reported that Tal and Refaeli would be the main hosts, while Azar and Ayoub would host the green room.{{Cite web|url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2019/01/25/meet-the-eurovision-2019-hosts-bar-refaeli-erez-tal-assi-azar-and-lucy-ayoub/230316/|title=Meet the Eurovision 2019 hosts: Bar Refaeli, Erez Tal, Assi Azar and Lucy Ayoub|date=25 January 2019|website=wiwibloggs.com|access-date=26 January 2019}} On 28 January, Azar and Ayoub hosted the contest's semi-final allocation draw at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art.{{Cite web|last=Groot|first=Evert|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/semi-final-allocation-draw-2019|title=Semi-Final Allocation Draw pots revealed!|publisher=Eurovision Song Contest|date=26 January 2019|website=eurovision.tv|accessdate=26 January 2019}}