Yehuda Levi Reveals Childhood Bullying Trauma and Lasting Impact

Israeli actor Yehuda Levi, 47, has shared a deeply personal account of the severe bullying and ostracism he experienced as a child in South Africa, revealing the lasting emotional scars it left. The confession came as part of a national campaign, "This is a Red Line," initiated by the President's Residence to combat bullying.

Levi explained that the memories resurfaced following the birth of his first child, Naya, six months ago with partner Dana Frider. The thought of his daughter experiencing similar pain, feeling less than worthy or like she doesn't belong, deeply troubles him, stemming from his own childhood experiences. He described feeling like an outsider growing up in South Africa, never the "king of the class," but always observing from the periphery.

He recounted a particularly painful incident in sixth grade when a group of friends he had finally found suddenly told him at a birthday party that they no longer wanted to be his friends. This led to continued bullying and mockery, which he endured while maintaining a facade of indifference, though he admitted it deeply affected him. This sense of loneliness, he believes, pushed him towards acting, as he immersed himself in movies and learned to adapt and read social cues, eventually turning this skill into his profession.

A subsequent economic crisis forced his family to leave South Africa abruptly, preventing him from saying proper goodbyes to his friends, leaving only farewell letters. Levi acknowledged that these experiences have impacted his adult relationships, leading him to sometimes distance himself from people who become important, fearing they might hurt him. He issued a public apology to those he may have hurt or pushed away, explaining that his withdrawal was sometimes due to how important they were to him, more than he could handle.

Concluding his message, Levi addressed children who engage in bullying, emphasizing that their power is temporary and urging them to consider the profound, lasting impact their actions can have on others. He suggested that a simple act of inclusion, like inviting someone to sit with them, can change a person's life story.