Bella Hadid Loses Dior Contract After Supporting Palestine, Replaced by Israeli Model
Bella Hadid, the Palestinian-American supermodel who has been a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause, is no longer a brand ambassador for Dior, the luxury fashion house from France. Read the full article below for more details.
Bella Hadid's Dior Contract Ends Amid Israel-Palestine Controversy
Bella Hadid, the Palestinian-American supermodel who has been a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause, is no longer a brand ambassador for Dior, the luxury fashion house from France. According to a person close to the matter, Hadid's contract with Dior ended in March 2022 and was not renewed¹. The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the decision was a commercial one and did not provide any further details.
Hadid's departure from Dior sparked speculation and outrage on social media, as some users claimed that she was dropped by the brand because of her recent comments on the latest Israel-Hamas war. In October 2023, Hadid posted a statement on Instagram, expressing her solidarity with the Palestinians and calling on her followers to pressure their leaders to protect civilians in Gaza¹. She also shared images of protests and rallies in support of Palestine, as well as information and resources on the conflict.
Some users pointed out that Dior had replaced Hadid with an Israeli model, May Tager, in its new holiday campaign ad. Tager, who is 24 years old, has worked with several international brands such as Giorgio Armani, Louis Vuitton, and Victoria's Secret. She appeared in some of the ads for Dior's 2023 holiday campaign, along with actor Anya Taylor-Joy and other models. However, Tager was also part of Dior's 2022 holiday campaign, which featured Hadid as well. Therefore, it is not clear if Tager was hired as a replacement for Hadid or as an addition to the existing cast.
The alleged change in Dior's lineup led to a backlash from some of Hadid's fans and supporters of the Palestinian cause, who accused the brand of being biased and insensitive. A hashtag calling to boycott Dior soon started trending on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Some users also criticized Dior for continuing its partnership with actor Johnny Depp, who was involved in a controversial domestic abuse case with his ex-wife Amber Heard.
Neither Hadid nor Dior has officially commented on the matter so far. Hadid has not posted any new content on her Instagram account since October 23, 2023. Dior has not issued any statement or clarification on its website or social media accounts. It is unclear if the controversy will affect the sales or reputation of the brand, which is owned by the LVMH group, the world's largest luxury goods conglomerate.
Conclusion:
The end of Bella Hadid's contract with Dior has raised questions about the influence of politics and public opinion on the fashion industry. Hadid, who has been vocal about her Palestinian heritage and the plight of the people in Gaza, is no longer a brand ambassador for the French luxury house. Some of her fans and supporters have accused Dior of being unfair and discriminatory, while others have defended the brand's right to choose its representatives. Dior has not confirmed or denied the allegations, and has remained silent on the issue. Hadid has also not commented on the matter, and has taken a break from social media. The controversy has highlighted the challenges and risks that celebrities and brands face when they express their views on sensitive and divisive topics.