Jo Malone backs from founder after son led Harvard Palestine group

Perfume giant Jo Malone distanced itself from company founder Jo Malone and son after it was revealed that he was a leader in a pro-Palestinian group at Harvard that blamed Israel for Hamas’ brutal assault on the Jewish state this week.

‘This is an extremely difficult time for everyone and please know we do not condone violence of any kind. At this time, we would like to clarify that Jo Malone the individual has not been affiliated with the Jo Malone London brand since 2006. We continue to lead with kindness,’ the company said in a statement. On Thursday, DailyMail.com exclusively revealed that Malone’s son, Josh Willcox, is one of three leaders of the Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee, a group that ‘hold[s] the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence.’

Malone sold her eponymous brand to cosmetics giant Estee Lauder in 1999. At the time writing, Malone herself has not condemned her son’s group’s statements. In a statement to DailyMail.com Jo said: ‘We as a family are heartbroken by the events of recent days and strongly condemn all forms of violence. ‘The abhorrent attack on innocent people on Saturday in Israel is beyond what any family should endure. We again strongly condemn all forms of violence and those that incite it. We have always acted with a heart for people wanting always to strive towards a peaceful solution to any conflict. This is an horrendous moment in our history where innocent people are paying the greatest price with their lives. It is utterly heartbreaking and must stop. As a family our hearts goes out to all those suffering terrible losses at this time and we send untold gratitude to all those selflessly risking their lives for others. We call upon all leaders to find a humanitarian resolution for all,’ the statement read.

The household name said it was the only comment she would be making and did not address her son’s direct links to the sickening statement from the group. In its latest comments the PSC bemoaned the lack of support they were getting from the university, saying the administration ‘invests in Israeli apartheid’. ‘The ongoing discourse centered on Harvard diverts focus from the relentless carnage in Gaza, a dire situation which our joint statement urgently warned about,’ it said.

Willcox’s fellow Palestine Solidarity Committee member Sanaa Kahloon subsequently spoke to the Harvard Crimson student newspaper confirming the group had no regrets over the controversial letter – while even doubling down on it. Kahloon said the organization ‘rejects the accusation’ its initial statement was ‘supportive of civilian deaths’. Speaking for the group, Kahloon, said their mission should be ‘obvious’, adding the ‘PSC staunchly opposes violence against civilians — Palestinian, Israeli, or other.’

‘The statement aims to contextualize the apartheid and colonial system while explicitly lamenting ‘the devastating and rising civilian toll’ in its caption,’ she added in a separate Crimson story. ‘It is unacceptable that Palestinians and groups supporting them are always expected to pre-empt their statements with condemnation of violence.’ Willcox studies Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations with history, with his mother telling media earlier this year he specializes in Arabic. He is a talented fencer who competes for Harvard and is the only son of the cologne and candle mogul and her husband Gary Willcox.

The serial-entrepreneur set up another successful scent company called JoLoves in 2011. Willcox attended the elite Latymer Upper School in London, whose famed former students include Hugh Grant. Fees for the day school are around $30,000-a-year. He spent part of his childhood in New York, with his self-made mom also owning a $9.3million apartment in a Knightsbridge square – lauded as one of London’s most desirable. His upbringing is in stark contrast to that of Malone, who grew up in public housing in a London suburb, suffered from dyslexia and left school aged just 13 to care for her mother after she suffered a stroke.

Willcox’s parents now live in Dubai, where they run their successful JoLoves business. Willcox has published at least three articles on Palestine for the Harvard Crimson, writing ‘To the Editor: When Will You Stop Silencing Palestine?’, in February along with a third leader of the organization, Shraddha Joshi. DailyMail.com has contacted Jo Malone, Jo Loves, Willcox and the two other named leaders of the Undergraduate Palestinian Solidarity Committee for comment. The Harvard statement it has continued to support was widely-condemned after blaming Israel for attacks that have killed at least 1,200 Israelis, including 25 Americans.

It focused heavily on the then-anticipated Israeli military onslaught in Gaza, with critics branding the missive tasteless and inflammatory. Willcox’s fellow committee member Kahloon is a sophomore and a dual-major in Molecular and Cellular Biology with Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies. Joshi, who penned several articles with Willcox, is an intern with Amnesty International and a social studies major. She spent time in Palestine in 2022, and in a blog post took aim at Harvard and the media for supporting Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion but ignoring the ongoing situation in Gaza.

The letter was signed by a host of Harvard student groups – but without students’ signatures included. The names of the groups themselves have since been scrubbed in a move they claim will boost signatories ‘safety.’ Many members of those groups have since sought to disavow it, claiming it was signed without their knowledge. Others say they regret the strident stance and have retracted their support. The initial statement from the PSC caused a huge backlash, with a host of blue chip CEO’s declaring those involved as ‘unemployable’, and The Anti-Defamation League denounced the statement as ‘anti-Semitic’

The group promoted their protests openly on social media, parading around the campus with banners that stated, ‘Harvard Supports Israeli Apartheid.’ Two other Palestinian Solidary Committee members, Eva Frazier and Kawsar Yasin, previously spoke of their involvement with the group in September. Frazier and Yasin, who are both involved in the Institutes of Politics Program at the university, told the Harvard Independent that they were ‘disappointed’ in the political engagement at the university. Read the full story: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12627365/Jo-Malone-founder-son-Harvard-israel-palestine.html?ito=msngallery

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