Activist group StopAntisemitism is urging Sephora to stop selling Huda Beauty products following controversial remarks made by founder Huda Kattan. In a now-deleted TikTok video, Kattan made incendiary claims linking Israel to pivotal historical events, including both World Wars, the 9/11 attacks, and the recent Hamas terrorist incursion on October 7. Her post, viewed by 1.7 million followers, suggested that Israel played a role in causing these catastrophic events, sparking outrage over her comments, which many deemed antisemitic and factually incorrect.
The historical context presented by Kattan is particularly problematic, as both World War I and World War II occurred before the establishment of Israel in 1948. Liora Rez, the founder of StopAntisemitism, argues that continuing to stock Huda Beauty products is inconsistent with Sephora’s stated values of inclusivity. In a letter to the retailer, Rez condemned Kattan for promoting conspiracy theories and inciting hatred against Jews, emphasizing that Sephora should sever its ties with the brand to uphold its commitment to safe and inclusive spaces for all communities.
The backlash has drawn attention from various Jewish organizations, which echo Rez’s sentiments. Many have characterized Kattan’s rhetoric as dangerous and reminiscent of historical antisemitic propaganda. Tamar Major, the USA National Director for Yad Vashem, highlighted the offensive nature of Kattan’s remarks, describing them as historically ignorant and potentially harmful. Her comments have been linked to rhetoric previously used by groups like Hamas, which similarly blamed Jews for global conflicts in their 1988 charter.
Kattan’s journey as a beauty entrepreneur began when she founded Huda Beauty in 2013, a brand that has reportedly generated $200 million in annual profits and was valued at $1.2 billion as of 2017. Despite the success of Huda Beauty, Kattan’s controversial statements about Israel, including accusations of organ harvesting and sheltering criminals, have severely undermined her credibility. The brand has been available at Sephora since its inception, prompting growing calls for retailers to reevaluate their partnerships with brands linked to divisive figures.
Prominent figures, including Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, have condemned Kattan’s comments as dangerous and reckless. He argues that promoting these types of conspiracy theories undermines the beauty industry’s foundations of positivity and acceptance. The call for action is further emphasized by Ari Hoffnung, a representative from JLens, who suggested that retailers must decide whether to support a brand that propagates hate or take a definitive stand against antisemitism.
As the discourse continues, Sephora and Kattan have yet to respond to inquiries regarding the situation. The controversy not only highlights the responsibility corporations hold toward societal issues but also raises questions about the impact of influential figures within the beauty industry. The outcome of this situation may set a precedent for how companies navigate their affiliations and the moral implications of those connections amidst growing societal awareness of antisemitism and related conspiracy theories.
