Avivit Bar Zohar Reveals Why She Will Never Forgive Lehiya Griner Over Decade-Old Feud
More than ten years after their highly publicized conflict began, Israeli celebrities Avivit Bar Zohar and Lehiya Griner remain at odds. The dispute started on Griner's wedding day when Bar Zohar claimed she was expelled from the event after arriving with a new partner. Months later, Griner publicly confronted Bar Zohar in a tearful interview, accusing her of lying about having a boyfriend and using a derogatory term "whore". Bar Zohar filed a defamation lawsuit, which ended in a settlement requiring Griner to apologize and pay 17,000 shekels.
Despite the passage of time, the incident remains a viral cultural reference in Israel, but Bar Zohar refuses to laugh it off. In a recent interview on the Walla personal podcast, she explained that the insult deeply hurt her and continues to affect her personal life, especially her relationships. She expressed fear of attending events with a partner due to media scrutiny and said the repeated use of the offensive term by Griner in comedy shows reopens old wounds.
Bar Zohar emphasized that while she can tolerate jokes about other aspects of the feud, the specific slur "whore" is unacceptable and damaging. She compared the reaction to such language if directed at other respected Israeli women, noting that feminist groups would likely protest. Bar Zohar acknowledged that Griner apologized and they were once friends, but after Griner revived the monologue in a recent stand-up performance, Bar Zohar decided to cut ties permanently.
She concluded by stating that no amount of money or apologies can heal the emotional damage caused by the repeated public use of the insult, and she will never forgive Griner for it.
