Haifa Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday rejected a defamation suit filed by tattoo artist Adir Mizrahi against tattoo artist and school owner Ariela Simantov, a former contestant on The Next Star. Mizrahi had sought 100,000 shekels, the removal of a video and a public apology, after Simantov posted a social media clip with the headline, "They lied to you, your tattoo artist lied to you about finger tattoos." The court also ordered Mizrahi to pay 10,000 shekels in legal costs.
The dispute began when Simantov argued on Instagram that finger tattoos do not necessarily fade over time, contrary to what many tattoo artists claim. She said, "They are not supposed to disappear. They are supposed to stay with you for life like any regular tattoo." Mizrahi responded sharply, accusing her of professional dishonesty, saying she was "promising things you cannot keep," calling her remarks "nonsense," and telling her to "keep gaining experience."
Mizrahi said Simantov’s reply effectively accused him of lying and that thousands of users could identify him, damaging his reputation and livelihood. But Judge Sigalit Matzah ruled that the phrase "They lied to you" should not be read literally, but as a figurative expression in a professional dispute. In her view, an ordinary viewer would understand the clip as a disagreement over tattooing technique, not an allegation that Mizrahi personally deceives clients. She wrote that it was a permitted opinion and added that, even if it were defamatory, Simantov would have been protected because she was defending her professional position after being attacked publicly.
After the ruling, Mizrahi said, "I lost faith in the court," adding that he felt the judge did not understand the harm caused to his reputation. He said the video affected a business built over about a decade, that Instagram brings him customers, and that he spends tens of thousands of shekels a year on advertising. His lawyer, Liza Damri-Ben Shachar, said they respected the ruling but did not agree with it, and were considering an appeal.
