Huda Beauty faces boycott over antisemitic conspiracy claims

15:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Huda Beauty faces boycott over antisemitic conspiracy claims

A fierce social media backlash has erupted against Huda Beauty following explosive statements by its founder, Huda Kattan, who accused Israel of orchestrating major global catastrophes. In a now-deleted TikTok video viewed by her 1.7 million followers, the Iraqi-American entrepreneur claimed Israel engineered World War I, World War II, the September 11 attacks, and the October 7, 2023, Hamas assault on Israel. Kattan doubled down on these assertions, saying, "All of the conspiracy theories coming out and a lot of evidence behind them; Israel has been behind every World War. Behind September 11? Absolutely." She also alleged Israel protects pedophiles and harvests organs from Palestinians, tropes long condemned as antisemitic by Jewish advocacy groups.

The controversy ignited swift condemnation from organizations like StopAntisemitism and the Anti-Defamation League, which labeled Kattan's rhetoric "vile antisemitic conspiracy theories" and "ugly hate" with dangerous real-world consequences. Activist Liora Rez, founder of StopAntisemitism, penned an open letter to Sephora, Huda Beauty's key retailer, demanding the immediate removal of its products from stores and online platforms worldwide. "If Sephora is serious about creating a safe and inclusive space for all communities, it must drop Huda Beauty immediately," Rez wrote, highlighting Kattan's history of anti-Israel remarks, including victim-blaming after the Hamas attack that killed nearly 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped 251 others. Sephora confirmed it is reviewing the partnership, placing the $200 million-a-year brand under intense commercial pressure amid calls for boycotts using hashtags like #Boycotthudabeauty.

Kattan defended her comments amid the uproar, dismissing critics as part of a "smear campaign" while refusing to retract her claims. This is not her first brush with controversy; post-October 7, she faced boycott demands for pro-Palestinian advocacy perceived as crossing into antisemitism. Founded in 2013 by Kattan, a former finance professional, Huda Beauty exploded into a billion-dollar empire valued at $1.2 billion by 2017, with products synonymous with inclusive beauty sold globally through Sephora since 2015. The saga exemplifies how influencers wield power on digital platforms, where personal views can jeopardize corporate empires overnight.

Retailers and consumers now grapple with the fallout, as Jewish groups urge accountability and warn that normalizing such narratives echoes Hamas's own antisemitic charter. Kattan has not publicly responded to requests for comment from major outlets, leaving the brand's future hanging in the balance. This episode underscores the perils of blending geopolitics with commerce in an era of hyper-connected activism, where a single video can unravel years of brand equity.