TV Host Threatens Lawsuit Against Netanyahu Aide Over "Fake" Ratings
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
TV host Guy Lerer has sent a legal warning to Prime Minister's associate Yonatan Urich over a graph Urich posted showing declining ratings for Lerer's show, which Lerer calls fabricated. The dispute follows a major leak of Urich's private communications, exposed by Lerer's program. Urich had previously threatened defamation suits against those who published the leaked material. Lerer, who has never sued before, stated Urich's influence made this situation significant, framing his potential lawsuit as a fight for truth.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- TV host Guy Lerer sent a legal warning to Prime Minister's associate Yonatan Urich over alleged fake ratings.
- The dispute follows a leak of Urich's private communications, exposed by Lerer's program "HaTzinor".
- Urich had previously threatened defamation lawsuits against those who published the leaked material.
- Lerer stated Urich's influence and alleged ease of spreading "truth-like" information made this situation significant.
- Lerer attached the actual ratings for his show and asked followers where Urich's potential lawsuit money should be donated.
Guy Lerer, host of Channel 13's program "HaTzinor" (The Pipe), has sent a legal warning letter to Yonatan Urich, a close associate of the Prime Minister, threatening a lawsuit over what Lerer claims are fabricated and defamatory ratings for his show. The dispute arises amidst a significant data leak from Urich's devices, which reportedly occurred after he connected his WhatsApp to an AI tool from Dubai. This breach led to the anonymous publication of thousands of his private conversations with journalists, advisors, and politicians.
Lerer and his team at "HaTzinor" were instrumental in exposing these leaked materials. They alleged that the Likud campaign coordinated with Ofer Vinter's "Am Israel" party and revealed purported political advice from commentator Amit Segal to Urich. In response to the revelations, Urich denied the authenticity of many messages, claiming they were altered or fabricated, and threatened defamation lawsuits against Lerer and others who shared the content.
The conflict escalated when Urich posted a graph on X (formerly Twitter) showing a purported decline in Lerer's show ratings from 12% in 2016 to an alleged 4.8% in 2026, accompanied by a mocking caption. In response, Lerer's lawyers sent the pre-lawsuit notice, accusing Urich of publishing false and slanderous data. Lerer himself stated that while he has never sued anyone before, Urich's influence and the ease with which he allegedly disseminates "truth-like" information, coupled with a "complete lack of conscience," made this situation significant.
Lerer further explained his decision to pursue legal action, framing it as a battle for truth and sanity, and a necessary effort to combat lies and wickedness. He attached the actual ratings for "HaTzinor" alongside general television viewership data for the period in question. Lerer also thanked his legal team, Ilan Yunish and Yuval Yoaz, who previously represented him in another case. He concluded by asking his followers where they would like Urich's potential lawsuit money to be donated.
This is not Lerer's first public confrontation; he recently criticized Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, calling him the "most tattered and pathetic political rag in Israel's history." This remark followed Sa'ar's comments on the testimony of former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit in the Netanyahu trial, where Sa'ar argued the trial had become a severe distortion of law enforcement and questioned the prosecution's refusal to reconsider the bribery charge.
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