Kate Konlin, the former girlfriend of convicted con artist Simon Leviev, has spoken out about her relationship with him, saying she felt trapped under his emotional control. The 23-year-old Israeli model appears in the Netflix documentary The Tinder Swindler, which details Leviev's alleged scams on the dating app.
Konlin told the BBC that Leviev initially showered her with affection, accompanying her to modelling shoots and sending loving voicenotes. However, the relationship soon turned controlling, with Leviev criticising her appearance, weight and skin, and isolating her from friends. She said she became 'grey' and lost confidence.
Leviev borrowed thousands of dollars from Konlin, totalling $150,000, and would shout at her when she asked for repayment. In one voicenote, he called her 'bird brain' and insisted he was a millionaire who was 'stuck'. Konlin said she felt obliged to defend him publicly after the documentary aired, as he told her people would believe him because she was a woman.
The relationship ended on 29 March 2022 when Konlin tried to leave. She says Leviev pushed her, causing a cut on her foot, and filmed her as she called an ambulance. Leviev sent the video to the BBC, claiming nothing had happened. Konlin now says she wants to tell her story of emotional abuse.
