Yaron London Opens Up About Family Secrets and His Son Yoav Zehavi
Veteran Israeli TV personality Yaron London opens up about keeping his secret son, Kan News journalist Yoav Zehavi, hidden from his family for years, reflecting on the heavy personal toll and his recent departure from television.
Yaron London, one of Israel's most prominent television veterans, is opening up about a deeply sensitive chapter of his personal life, addressing the secret child he kept from his family for years and his son, Yoav Zehavi.
In a candid interview on the "Ehad Plus Ehad" podcast hosted by Moshe Becker, London discussed Zehavi, currently a journalist for Kan News, who was born out of wedlock. Without attempting to gloss over the past, the veteran broadcaster explained why he chose to keep their relationship hidden from his wife and children.
A Family Secret and Its Heavy Toll
"I never denied it," London said. "Look, I had a family, I am not justifying it, but practically speaking I had a family. My wife was very dependent, and I thought I could not disclose the fact that a child was born outside of marriage."
"I am not playing underground here, but it is true that it was more convenient for me that my family did not know about it. And ultimately it cost me a price, and of course also my children and my wife. It could have been organized in a more intelligent way, which would have been beneficial for everyone, including Yoav himself of course."
When speaking about Zehavi, London's tone shifted dramatically, offering warm and affectionate praise for his son, describing him as having "an indescribable charm, the light that emanates from him."
Coping with Illness and Life as a Retiree
London also touched upon the difficult health challenges facing his son in recent months. Zehavi has publicly shared that he is battling multiple sclerosis. London reflected on how, strangely enough, the illness also brought about unexpected changes.
"It is a very burdensome disease, and a disease that cannot be cured for now," London said. "But strangely enough, I think it also benefited him."
Beyond family matters, London addressed why he is rarely seen on television screens anymore. His response was characteristically sharp and direct: "The answer is very simple. I was fired."
He added that while subsequent offers came in, none of them sparked a genuine desire to return to the screen. "I feel very good as a retiree."
