Palestine-supporting Bella Hadid dropped as the face of Charlotte Tilbury’s lipstick range

Cosmetics brand Charlotte Tilbury has dropped Bella Hadid as the face of its biggest-selling lipstick range.

The move comes after the model, whose father is Palestinian, was criticised for expressing support for Gaza.

But the company last night strongly denied this was the reason why she was suddenly let go as a brand ambassador.

The 27-year-old’s departure came as a surprise to staff. One source said the brand was so excited about the lipstick launch featuring Hadid it had sent videos to staff to tell them it had re-signed her.

Bosses were thrilled after sales rocketed when they first began working with the model seven months ago, describing the boost as the ‘Bella Hadid effect’.

Ms Tilbury herself featured in a promotional video with Hadid last year in which she tells her: ‘Bella, darling! I’m so happy you’re here.’ But now Hadid has been replaced by an unknown model.

The move comes after the model, whose father is Palestinian, was criticised for expressing support for Gaza. But the company last night strongly denied this was the reason why she was suddenly let go as a brand ambassador

Ms Hadid, whose father is property developer Mohamed Hadid (pictured), 75, has courted controversy for online comments expressing her support for Gaza

Charlotte Tilbury confirmed Hadid’s contract had come to an end but insisted her political views were not a factor.

Ms Hadid, whose father is property developer Mohamed Hadid, 75, has courted controversy for online comments expressing her support for Gaza.

In an Instagram post last October – soon after Hamas slaughtered 1,200 Israelis in a terror attack – she wrote: ‘It’s important to understand the hardship of what it is to be Palestinian, in a world that sees us as terrorists resisting peace. It’s harmful, it’s shameful, and it’s categorically untrue.’

She plans to unveil her own cosmetics and wellness company, Orebella, in May.