Social Media Stars Arrested for Extorting Man Filmed Abusing Cat

Israeli police arrested social media stars Michel Tronny and Denis Cherkov on Thursday on suspicion of extorting a young man and his family. The arrests followed the circulation of a disturbing video last week showing a young man repeatedly slamming a cat to the ground. Tronny and Cherkov allegedly filmed conversations with the suspect's family, confronting them with the abuse.

In one recorded exchange, Cherkov is heard telling the suspect's parents, "You have until today a fine of 20,000 shekels to any charity you want. If not, I won't talk." Tronny added, "Your faces are exposed and we are coming to demonstrate legally." They also urged others to join them. In another video, Tronny threatened, "This kid, his parents, his educator, and his friends there, I want all their faces. 20,000 shekels fine or you'll get billboards from me, you brat."

The police stated that the investigation was initiated following complaints from several individuals, including a minor, who claimed the social media stars had threatened them, extorted money, and disseminated videos of these threats. Tronny and Cherkov presented themselves to the police voluntarily, cooperated fully with the investigation, and were released after about an hour without significant restrictions.

They asserted that the complaints were filed by external parties with ulterior motives, including personal revenge. The social media stars stated they operate within the law and will continue to protect animals through "precedent-setting and groundbreaking methods never before seen in Israel." The original video showed the young man grabbing a cat by the tail, lifting it, and slamming it to the ground multiple times while friends in the background encouraged him.