Noa Kirel Faces Criticism for Silence on Eden Ben Zaken's Restriction Remark on 'The Voice'

During a behind-the-scenes moment on the Israeli TV show "The Voice" aired recently, singer Eden Ben Zaken revealed she is forbidden from training with male fitness coaches, stating, "I am only allowed to train with women." When host Michael Aloni pressed who imposed this restriction, Ben Zaken avoided a direct answer but hinted at controlling dynamics in her relationship. She quickly tried to defuse the situation by dismissing it as unrelated to feminism and shifting the conversation back to music.

Sitting next to Ben Zaken, pop star Noa Kirel responded with nervous laughter and silence, a reaction that drew criticism. Kirel, who recently admitted in an interview to being hurt by past criticism for avoiding taking a stand, was seen as missing a crucial opportunity to challenge the controlling implication in Ben Zaken's statement. Critics argue that Kirel’s silence effectively legitimized the notion that a woman must seek permission from a partner, which contradicts her role as a role model for millions of young women.

The article contrasts Kirel’s reaction with what might have been expected from other Israeli female singers like Shiri Maimon, Keren Peles, or Miri Mesika, who likely would have spoken out. It suggests that Kirel’s reluctance to engage in such discussions reinforces her image as a carefully managed public figure who avoids taking ethical or feminist stances. The piece concludes that by not addressing the controlling dynamic openly, Kirel missed a chance to promote female independence and inadvertently normalized the behavior as acceptable and even humorous.