22.09.2025 23:01
The general director of the channel TELE 1, Merdan Yanardağ, apologized live on air regarding the scandalous caption that compared President Erdoğan to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, which has led to an investigation. Yanardağ stated, "There is no need to twist it. We do not agree with the expression in the caption, we find it incorrect, and we reject it. We apologize for it being broadcasted on TELE 1."
TELE1 General Broadcast Director Merdan Yanardağ apologized live on air for the scandalous caption comparing Erdoğan to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.
A scandalous caption was displayed on the television channel TELE 1. During a program aired last night, President Erdoğan was compared to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the caption.
INVESTIGATION INITIATED
While many reactions came regarding the scandalous caption, the judiciary also took action. Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç stated in his announcement that an investigation has been initiated. Minister Tunç said, "An investigation has been launched regarding the use of a sentence comparing our President Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with the genocidal Netanyahu as a lower third text on a television channel."
INVESTIGATION ON 3 NAMES
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office also announced that an investigation has been initiated against 3 channel executives. In the statement, it was noted, "Following the determination that a lower third text stating 'What is the difference between RTE and Netanyahu' was published in the program titled 'Turkey's Direction' aired on the television channel TELE1, an investigation has been initiated by our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against General Broadcast Director Merdan Yanardağ, Responsible Manager İhsan Demir, and Program Moderator Musa Özuğurlu for the crime of 'Public Insult to the President'."
APOLOGIZED LIVE ON AIR
Following the reactions, TELE1 General Broadcast Director Merdan Yanardağ apologized live on air. Yanardağ stated, "There is no need to twist it. We do not agree with, do not find correct, and reject the expression in the caption. We apologize for it being broadcast on TELE 1."