Photo: TORE KRISTIANSEN/VG/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Netflix shocked audiences with itstrue-crime documentaryThe Tinder Swindler, but the story is ongoing.
The film, which hit the streaming service on Feb. 2, tellsthe wild storyof a man named Shimon Hayut, who allegedly posed asSimon Levievand claimed to be the son of a diamond mogul on the popular dating app, Tinder.
Underhis false identity, he would charm women and persuade them to loan him money, swindling an estimated $10 million from people across the globe.
Perhaps even more shocking than all of his crimes? He’s walking free and pursuing a Hollywood career — while the women he swindled remain in debt to this day.
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Thoughhe was convicted of fraud, theft, and forgeryand sentenced to 15 months in prison in December 2019,he was releasedearly only five months later.
Here’s everything to know about where Simon Leviev is now and what he’s been up to since the Netflix documentary’s release.
Is Simon Leviev Still on Tinder?
Though Leviev was still on Tinder when the documentary was released, the dating app has since banned him from the platform.
“We have conducted internal investigations and can confirm Simon Leviev is no longer active on Tinder under any of his known aliases,“Tinder said in a statement toVariety.
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Is Simon Leviev on Social Media?
Though Leviev is no longer allowed to use Tinder, he was still very active on Instagram following the release of the documentary. His account, @simon_leviev_official, had even gained over 200,000 followers.
Shortly after the documentary’s release, according toThe Tab,Leviev said his Instagram account was hackedand deleted, causing him to create a new profile; he then returned to the original account andclaimed it was all resolved.
As of Feb. 16, the Instagram account, @simon_leviev_official, appears to be down again. There was previouslya TikTok account that claimed to be him, although that has not been confirmed.
What Does Simon Leviev Do For a Living?
Leviev previously had awebsite(which is currently inactive), where he offered business advice for $300.
Now it seems likeLeviev is setting his sights on Hollywood. According toEntertainment Tonight, “he has signed on with a talent manager, Gina Rodriguez of Gitoni Inc., in hopes of pursuing a career in the entertainment industry.” The publication also adds that he is “looking into a potential podcast, hosting a dating show, and/or writing a book.”
Interestingly enough, the news of Leviev signing with a talent manager comes after reports that Netflix is eyeing toturn the hit documentary into a full-fledged movie, according toVariety. Sources tell the publication that “the conversation is in early stages, and that the tone of a potential film is still being worked out.”
It’s unclear if Leviev, who declined to participate in the original documentary, will be involved with the film.
According to TMZ,Leviev has joined Cameo, the popular app which allows celebrities to send personalized video messages to fans. The publication reports he made $30K within his first 3 days on the app, “charging $200 a pop for personal video and $2k per video for businesses.”
Did Simon Leviev Get Sued?
source: people.com
