Israeli reality TV star closed her Instagram page on Monday after she received threats over her comments labeling Haredi men who participated at Mount Meron festivities that ended in disaster "animals".
Lihi Griner, who rose to fame after appearing on the third season of Israeli version of Big Brother, said the comments in a controversial video she posted on social media over the weekend.
"It doesn't have to be like this, huddling like sardines,” said Griner in the controversial video which has since been taken down. “You stepped on them. Look what you did. All these ultra-Orthodox men, what is it? I've never seen animals like that. You killed people.”
Following the public outcry caused by the video, Griner uploaded a new video in which she tried to atone for what she said.
"I did not besmirch anyone,” Griner is seen saying tearfully in the video.
“You insist that I said they were like animals, but I said it about the amount of people, about the load, that's what came to my mind, it's not that they're specifically animals," said Griner.
She added that she has received numerous threats following the publication of the original video.
Lihi Griner's apology video
(Video: Instagram)
Despite her apology and the revelation of the threats made against her and her family, thousands chose to unfollow Griner on Instagram, the star's main source of income.
As a result, she chose to shut down her Instagram page that has nearly 200,000 followers.