The luxury house's apparent decision to get Bella, who is of Palestinian descent, replaced as a brand ambassador arrives after the supermodel voices strong support for Palestine amid Hamas-Israel conflict.
- Nov 6, 2023
AceShowbiz - Bella Hadid's outspoken support for Palestine may have cost her brand ambassador gig in Dior Beauty. The luxury house has reportedly replaced the supermodel, who is of Palestinian descent, with Israeli model May Tager.
Bella, who was first unveiled as its ambassador back in May 2016, was visibly absent in a new ad for the brand's new perfume La Collection Privee from its holiday season collection. Instead, the new promo highlighted May, indicating that Dior Beauty has tapped May to lead the campaign.
A local Israeli newspaper appeared to confirm the new alteration. "While many companies around the world refrain from openly supporting Israel, international brand Dior has chosen Israeli model May Tager to lead their campaign, a role previously held by Bella Hadid, who has long been an advocate for the Palestinian cause and a vocal critic of Israel," it noted.
Social media users, meanwhile, put Dior on blast for the move. "Dior kept rapist abuser Johnny Depp as their face of their brand. Just so everyone knows. Company filled with devils, I hope Bella is okay," one critic wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"The fact that dior still gives the wifebeater johnny depp a platform despite everything that happened just tells you everything about that brand," another user noted. "Absolutely vile and unprofessional to target bella when she has been vocal about palestine from the very beginning."
Another supported Bella, saying, "Lmao they got rid of the most famous model, she don't need dior lol she rich enough, bye bye dior." Echoing the sentiment, one other wrote, "Bella Hadid is literally THE model of this generation, their LOSS. Slay Bella, Palestinian Queen."
Neither Dior and Bella has addressed the alleged shift. May, meanwhile, has limited her comments on her Instagram account after getting numerous comments from Bella's fans.
Bella did continue to voice support for Palestine despite receiving death threats. The Victoria's Secret model wrote on Instagram on October 26, "Forgive me for my silence. I have yet to find the ideal words for this deeply intricate and horrific past 2 weeks, weeks that have turned the world's attention back towards a situation that has been taking innocent lives and affecting families for decades. I have much to say, but for today, I will keep it short."
"I've been sent hundreds of death threats daily, my phone number has been leaked, and my family has felt to be in danger," she continued. "But I cannot be silenced any longer. Fear is not an option. The people and children of Palestine, especially in Gaza, cannot afford our silence. We are not brave - they are."
The sister of Gigi Hadid added, "My heart is bleeding with pain from the trauma I am seeing unfold, as well as the generational trauma of my Palestinian blood. Seeing the aftermath from the airstrikes in Gaza, I mourn with all the mothers who have lost children and the children who cry alone, all the lost fathers, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunties, friends that will never again walk this earth." Bella, however, stressed that "arming women and children and inflicting terror does not and should not do any good for the Free Palestine movement."
Concluding her lengthy statement, the 27-year-old beauty noted, "We need to keep pressure on our leaders, wherever we are, not to forget the urgent needs of the people of Gaza, and to ensure that innocent Palestinian civilians are not the forgotten casualties of this war. I stand with humanity, knowing that peace and safety belong to us all."
