Influencer Danielle Amit Sues i24 Journalist Dana Yarkachi for Defamation Over Cake Pricing Coverage

Israeli influencer Danielle Amit has filed a defamation lawsuit against i24 journalist Dana Yarkachi, seeking 330,000 shekels in damages. The suit, submitted last week, challenges Yarkachi's reporting on two cakes Amit sells, a chocolate cake and a cheesecake, and their prices. Amit alleges that Yarkachi unfairly compared her cakes to cheaper alternatives, omitting significant differences in ingredients, weight, and packaging, thus misleading consumers and damaging Amit's reputation.

The lawsuit, filed by attorneys Mika Bar-Natan and Moti Arad from Goldfarb Gross Zeligman, accuses Yarkachi of making personal and mocking remarks about Amit and her customers. One cited example includes Yarkachi sarcastically questioning the chocolate cake's 140-shekel price, suggesting it was made by a pastry chef at the Elysee Palace. Yarkachi also claimed the cake was produced by a bakery chain selling a similar cake for 80 shekels, calling those who buy or sell Amit's cake "classless."

Amit contends these statements created a false impression that her cakes are identical to cheaper products, humiliating her clientele. The lawsuit includes a comparison table highlighting differences in product parameters. Amit further claims the "smear campaign" began with a series of reports by Yarkachi during her tenure at the public broadcasting corporation, including a segment titled "The Bluff of Danielle Amit," which criticized the cakes' quality and customer experiences.

The complaint also alleges that Yarkachi's reports included a purported official response from Amit's side, recorded without her knowledge or consent. The journalist reportedly continued the same approach with the cheesecake, again implying a 50% price markup without acknowledging product distinctions. Yarkachi allegedly labeled Amit as a "cheap provocateur" and "attention seeker" in relation to the cheesecake controversy.

The lawsuit states that these widely disseminated broadcasts and digital posts have harmed Amit's professional reputation through a systematic, ongoing defamation campaign rather than legitimate consumer criticism. Amit demands monetary compensation, removal of the offending content, a ban on further dissemination, and a public correction. i24 News has not responded to requests for comment.