Yael Poliakov reacts to the storm: "I went through hell"

Israeli actress Yael Poliakov has broken her silence following a public backlash sparked by a clip from last week's episode of the "Beit HaPodiom" podcast, hosted by Asi Azar and Poliakov. In the controversial segment, Poliakov criticized content creators who share videos of themselves undressing and dressing in front of the camera, stating, "I will finish the fats," a remark that drew widespread criticism online and beyond.

In a new episode aired this morning (Sunday), Poliakov addressed the storm for the first time, revealing the intense toll it took on her. "There was no such hell, I got sick, also Elad," she said, describing how the controversy affected her health. She clarified her original comments, explaining, "Lately I kept seeing women only undressing and dressing. The thing I'm talking about is the exploitation of nudity."

Podcast co-host Asi Azar acknowledged shared responsibility for the uproar, noting that many parents had reached out to him. "Many parents, at least to me, wrote—parents of girls who are bullied at school," Azar said. He added, "I don't put the responsibility only on you. I think also that I laughed when you said that, and also that we chose to broadcast it as a teaser in the end. Because really, I think that whoever enters the full podcast understood you."

Poliakov elaborated on her critique of certain trends in content creation, urging an end to superficial messaging. "I'm saying, stop delivering this terrible and shallow message that self-love is nudity and a strong woman is through nudity," she stated. She challenged the notion of "female power," saying, "A woman who loves herself is a woman who doesn't need feedback, and she doesn't need applause and she doesn't need love; she simply loves herself, because self-love is inside."

Dismissing what she called "fake feminism," Poliakov questioned the value of such content. "They talk about change and female empowerment and feminine power and fake feminism," she remarked. She posed a direct challenge to creators: "Is this female empowerment, your breasts?"

Poliakov emphasized true contributions to the world over physical exposure. "What do you bring to the world, dear? You bring knowledge, you bring information, you bring breakthrough ideas. You bring amazing solutions, you bring creativity, or talent, or what do you bring—joy and light. What do you bring?" she asked rhetorically, advocating for substance in female empowerment.