Eyal Golan. Photo: Wiki Commons.

For the last 15 years I have loved Eyal Golan’s music – my children know many of his songs and have spent many hours singing and dancing with me to his music (or telling me to stop singing so loud.) As we now know, while his music is amazing, clearly the man is anything but.

Israel’s most famous singer, a household name in nearly every home, Eyal Golan was recently under investigation on allegations of statutory rape with underage girls. Reports say that Golan’s father and friends located girls at his concerts, some of which may have been underage, plied them with drugs, and the girls then had sex with Golan. While recent news reports indicate that he may not be charged, he is clearly far from a decent person. Deviant behavior took place, and children are forever traumatized as a result of their encounter with this brilliant singer and his family.

Now, as surely he always wanted, the whole world knows his name – likely this is the first time Sephardic superstar Eyal Golan has been featured in The Hollywood Reporter, which is considered the bible of entertainment publications. In a world where Michael Jackson, a man considered by some to have been a child molester, has a ride dedicated to him at Disney, perhaps this behavior should be considered normal.

In recent years, we have seen so many fallen heroes – from Lance Armstrong to Tiger Woods, Pee Wee Herman to Michael Vick – that it should be no surprise that an Israeli living legend has now fallen to Earth.

Just because someone is marketed a certain way, it doesn’t mean that their public persona reflects the real person. Eyal Golan may be a great singer – but keep him far away from your daughters. As a parent who makes a living as a marketer, I am cognizant of the dictum made famous by NBA legend Charles Barkley who said in his famous Nike commercials: “I am not a role model. I am not paid to be a role model. Parents should be role models. Just because I can dunk a basketball doesn’t mean I should raise your kids.”

Marketers create brands, and I do so on a daily basis for many celebrities – and will continue to do so – but parents set rules and values. Why would anyone have allowed their young daughters near this uber-star? Enjoying Eyal Golan’s music shouldn’t be reason enough for anyone to leave their kids alone with him.

While conclusions have yet to be drawn, his claim to be unaware of the girls’ ages is completely unconvincing and despicable. There is no question at all that Eyal Golan is guilty in the court of public opinion. Shame on you Eyal Golan.

The lyrics of Eyal Golan’s most famous song “Mi Shemaamin – מי שמאמין” are “There is one mighty God – He gives us everything in this world. Between darkness to a sun beam – We only need to choose the path.” Eyal Golan chose the path of evil and darkness. Despite having been married to a former Miss Israel, fathering two kids, and being adored by the public, fame led him to evil and darkness.

Ronn Torossian is the CEO of 5WPR, and the winner of the 2013 Silver Stevie Award for PR Executive of the Year by the American Business Awards. He has attended more than 20 Eyal Golan concerts.