"An entire country laughed at me, mocked me. I will never forgive that"
He does not forget how the viewers reacted ("It's like a wound. As if we moved on, but not really"), claims that men find it hard to accept him, and is convinced that there is a line they do not cross only because of his intimidating appearance: Zohar Isaac does not mince words, and speaks now on the "Spill It" podcast about life after reality TV – and about the woman because of whom he has not yet "flown out of here a long time ago", Hodaya.
When Zohar Isaac packed a small bag and went alone on a year-long journey to the East, he was looking for exactly the opposite of the spotlight: quiet and a life that no one is interested in. Less than two years later, he found himself at the heart of one of the most exposed stages in Israel, discovering the hard way how far he is willing to go for a few minutes of fame. Today, after the cameras were turned off, with criticism and public mockery in the background that defined what masculinity is – and cast doubt on his own – he defines the decision to enter reality TV as a mistake, even though he met there the greatest gift of his life.
In the "Spill It" podcast with Lilach Markovitch, Isaac does not mince words. He explains why he despises today's men, reveals the truth behind the promise rings he and contestant Hodaya Cohen exchanged – the only positive thing in this whole experience – and why, despite his devotion to his partner, he is not yet ready to settle down.
I will never forgive because there was no mercy
The moment when the real game started for 28-year-old Isaac came when he left the Big Brother house into a reality where anonymity disappeared almost overnight. The reactions and imitations on social media, alongside a barrage of harsh comments, mainly from men, cause him now to go on the offensive. "Always when they saw that I was hurt, they attacked me harder. I learned that, okay, screw you. I do what I want, I speak how I want, I live how I live. No one will dictate my pace."
"After the eviction, I physically saw my previous life falling apart. I was an anonymous person who smoked a cigar and lived with horses. The extreme gap between the quiet life I lived and the sudden attacks from all directions was intense. Wow, take a breath for a second."
"Even negative publicity is good publicity? I don't agree. People from the yellow press are just looking for the next juice. If they hate you for things you aren't proud of, it's not positive. Life after the program is very complex. Suddenly I'm recognized everywhere, and I didn't imagine it would be like this. It's a wheel that doesn't really end."
A man who went through shit knows how to appreciate
According to Isaac, women supported him along the way. Why? Perhaps because he presents a different male figure. "Men have a real problem with me; they don't know how to 'eat' me. Women usually only support me. It's funny, all the positive things are women, all the negative things are men. I'm not ashamed to say: there is a lack of men in the world today. I grew up and saw real men."
However, the masculinity he claims he brought to the screen was received by some as "too sensitive." He was called a "simp" – a man trying to win sympathy through his behavior. He, on the other hand, does not see a contradiction between sensitivity and masculinity.
"Men today," Isaac claims, "are selfish and fabricated versions of something unrealistic. A man whose ego broke at a certain age comes out of the illusion of 'I am all-powerful.' When you meet death, you realize you are nothing. The whole 'puppy' narrative is a stupid culture. Do you have someone you love? Spoil her, take care of her, be there for her. I am ready to accept the criticism and die with it."
I have many things to solve in my life before I propose marriage
Isaac is no longer in a hurry to pack. Inside the chaos, there is one person who became an anchor for him: Hodaya Cohen, who recently gave him a promise ring. But unlike the crazy pace of his life, he is taking his time regarding marriage.
"I have many things to solve in my life before I propose. I want to reach a stable economic place. We live in a country that is not cheap. Also, where are we rushing? I met a person I'm good with. In my personal opinion, marriage is for starting a family. I am dying to be a father; I wish I had a little, cute girl. But being a parent is not just bringing children into the world; it's also financial security. I will be a better father because I know how to deal with stress and chaos."
