Mere days after being announced as the first hijab-wearing model for L’Oreal Paris’s international hair campaign, Amena Khan has stepped down from her role after “anti-Israel” tweets were uncovered from her Twitter timeline.
L’Oreal: Because You’re Not Worth It.
The tweets, which have since been deleted but were caught in a screenshot, claimed that “Israel is an illegal state” and a “sinister state.” The British beauty blogger had also tweeted:
“Israel = Pharoah. Both are child murderers. Insha’Allah, defeat also awaits the former; it’s only a matter of time. #HopeForGaza #SaveGaza.”
Amena Khan was chosen by @LOrealParisUK to model for the company’s newest hair product campaign. However, a search of Khan’s Twitter account raises questions about the appropriateness of making her the face of the new campaign. Khan frequently espouses anti-Israel views. pic.twitter.com/ynMQ7dfjXJ
— Aisha Murtad (@UmmAlMumineen) January 19, 2018
Khan released a statement on Instagram to her 570,000 followers, but swiftly uploaded a longer tweet to ‘clarify’ any misunderstandings days later:
A spokesperson for L’Oreal Paris told the BBC, “We agree with her decision to step down from the campaign. We have recently been made aware of a series of tweets posted in 2014 by Amena Khan, who was featured in a UK advertising campaign. We appreciate that Amena has since apologized for the content of these tweets and the offense they have caused. L’Oreal Paris is committed to tolerance and respect towards all people.”
The news has, naturally, divided the public.
The Conservative Women penned an article postulating that an apology wasn’t enough, stating that both Khan and L’Oreal’s apologies were “vapid,” claiming that “L’Oreal has a murky past when it comes to Jews and I suspect this dictates its attitude towards Israel” alluding to the fact that the company’s founder, Eugene Schueller, was a Nazi sympathizer.
L’Oreal was the subject of controversy back in September, when the brand dropped British model and transgender activitist Munroe Bergdorf for saying that “All white people are racist” after the infamous far-right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Munroe added: “Honestly I don’t have the energy to talk about the racial violence of white people any more. Yes ALL white people. Most of ya’ll don’t even realize or refuse to acknowledge that your existence, privilege and success as a race is built on the backs, bloody and death of all people of color.”
Munroe was subsequently dropped due to the racist comments.
L’Oreal, you sure know how to pick them.
Source: dangerous
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