TikTok recently took down a controversial video by prominent beauty influencer Huda Kattan, founder of Huda Beauty, in which she made unsubstantiated claims linking Israel to major historical events, including World War I, World War II, and the September 11 attacks, as well as the recent Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Kattan, who boasts over 11 million followers on TikTok, suggested that Israel played a role in these global incidents, despite the fact that both World Wars occurred before the establishment of Israel in 1948.
In her original TikTok post, Kattan stated, “Are they behind every world war? Yes,” implying that Israel had orchestrated pivotal instances of global unrest. TikTok confirmed the video’s removal due to violations of its community guidelines, which aim to prevent misinformation that can cause significant harm.
The backlash to Kattan’s statements has been swift, particularly among Jewish groups and social media users, leading to calls for retailers like Sephora to reevaluate their partnership with her brand, valued at approximately $1.2 billion in 2017. This not only reflects rising tensions around Kattan’s remarks but also her history of controversial public statements regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Her recent comments and previous remarks led to a Change.org petition calling for Sephora to discontinue selling Huda Beauty products, which has garnered more than 30,000 signatures. Kattan, a vocal critic of Israel and supporter of Palestinian rights, has claimed that she “does not want blood money” in response to threats of boycotts from Israeli users.
The Anti-Defamation League’s CEO, Jonathan Greenblatt, condemned Kattan’s video as promoting “ugly hate,” while the American Jewish Committee described her conspiracy theories as dangerous and rooted in centuries-old antisemitism. These groups have asserted that Kattan’s influence is harmful, particularly in light of the fact that she leverages her platform to propagate baseless claims.
Calls for retailers to distance themselves from Kattan highlight a broader conversation about corporate responsibility and the impact of public figures who disseminate harmful rhetoric. As Kattan continues to navigate the backlash from her remarks, her brand’s future hangs in the balance amidst growing scrutiny.
In summary, Huda Kattan’s controversial TikTok video has sparked considerable backlash and calls for action against her brand due to the propagation of antisemitic conspiracy theories, which raises complex questions about social media responsibility and the implications for influencers and their corporate partnerships.