Survivor's Avi Shoshan Cuts Ties With Lior Dayan Amid Controversy

Media personality Avi Shoshan, a former spokesperson for Ichilov Hospital, has ended his friendship with fellow "Survivor" contestant Lior Dayan following Dayan's critical remarks about Shoshan's behavior on the show. Dayan expressed shock at Shoshan's actions in the latest episode, particularly his treatment of contestants Lir Oz and Shimon Vaknin, stating Shoshan had crossed a line and demanding an apology.

In response, Shoshan has stopped communicating with Dayan, ending a friendship that continued after their return from the island. The rift occurred after Dayan's interview on the program "HaTzinor," where he detailed his disappointment. This fallout contrasts sharply with a joint Instagram post from election day, where Shoshan and Dayan called for national unity.

The on-screen conflict that reportedly led to Dayan's criticism involved Shoshan's aggressive behavior within his "Lupa" tribe after losing an immunity challenge. He allegedly accused Vaknin of causing the loss by not observing Shabbat and used a derogatory term for Oz. Shoshan later apologized on camera, attributing his outburst to extreme hunger and emotional distress, but faced significant backlash from viewers.

Shoshan's controversial statements on "Survivor" have also included claiming to be the "first to pay the price for the October 7th failure" and criticizing contestant Yocheved Lifshitz. The public reaction has been severe, with Shoshan reporting receiving death threats against himself and his children, prompting him to request personal security from the network.

Furthermore, Shoshan alleges that the show's editing has damaged his reputation and has refused to participate in promotional appearances. Channel 14, where Shoshan is a regular panelist on "HaPatriotim," has placed him on an enforced leave due to his participation on a competing network. He is also reportedly in a renewed public dispute with media personality Karin Gideon over his on-island conduct.