Pro-Palestine protesters have accused Bella Hadid of hypocrisy for taking part in the Victoria’s Secret’s 2024 Fashion Show because the brand has ties to Israel.
The supermodel, 28, wowed as she closed the show in red lingerie set with a statement coat on Tuesday night in New York.
And while Bella has been praised for her catwalk comeback, Palestine supporters criticised the model who has been vocal in opposition to Israel’s occupation of Gaza and and whose father Mohamed Hadid was born in Palestine.
Bella, and her sister Gigi, 29, – who also walked in the show – have spoken against Israel’s occupation and the war in Gaza on dozens of occasions.
The younger Hadid sister has even gone as far to say she’s ‘not afraid to lose modelling jobs’ due to her stance – which has left fans baffled as to why she walked for a brand with ties to Israel.
One of the main suppliers of Victoria’s Secret merchandise is the Israeli textile giant Delta Galil Industries Ltd.
The underwear brand also opened two new stores in Israel last year, while the country was at war.
Bella Hadid has been slammed after walking in Victoria’s Secret ‘s 2024 Fashion Show – despite the brand’s ties to Israel
Bella’s sister Gigi Hadid also walked in the comeback show
Bella was pictured attending a pro-Palestine rally in New York City in May of 2021
Bella and Gigi Hadid join in the protest against President Trump’s immigration ban on the streets of NYC in January, 2017
Some Palestinian group encourage a boycott of the brand in its entirety – although it’s not on the official BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) list, written by a coalition of Palestinian organisations.
Delta Galil, which is worth more than $1billion, was also included in a 2023 report by the UN Israeli business enterprises working on ‘Occupied Palestinian Territory’.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, after the show, many fans shared their disappointment in Bella.
‘Bella doing Victoria’s Secret fashion show is interesting considering they are pro Israel,’ said one.
‘Isn’t Victoria’s Secret just overall awful? And a Zionist corporation,’ wrote another.
Bella Hadid has been contacted for comment.
Speaking in August to Noor Tagouri on her Public Opinion podcast, the model explained: ‘I really believe if I’d started talking up about Palestine when I was 20, I wouldn’t have the recognition and respect I have now.
‘There have been so many brands that have stopped working with me. A lot of friends have also turned their backs on me.
‘I had friends that completely dropped me, like even friends that I had been having dinner with on Friday nights, for seven years, now just won’t let me into their house.’
The model, 28, who has voiced her support for her homeland, previously wore a Keffiyeh dress
Bella Hadid made a statement of support for Palestine amid the Israel-Gaza conflict as she stepped out wearing a dress fashioned from a Keffiyeh at Cannes Film Festival
Background: It comes after the half-Palestinian star explained to GQ that she yearned for a chance to explore that side of her history after moving to the West coast (Pictured with her dad in 2017)
Bella took to Instagram with a detailed statement calling for pressure to be put on political leaders to ‘stand together in defending humanity and compassion’
Early days: Bella, seen with sister Gigi as a child, was born in Washington, D.C., where she spent the first four years of her life growing up around relatives from her Palestinian side
Family: The model is the daughter of Dutch supermodel and former reality star Yolanda Hadid, and Palestinian real estate developer Mohamed Hadid (pictured with her mum Yolanda and siblings)
Bella has also been targeted by the Israeli government, with their official X account falsely accusing her of ‘spreading antisemitism and calling for violence against Israelis and Jews,’.
The model has also condemned antisemitism.
‘I will forever stand by my people of Palestine while continuing to advocate for a world free of antisemitism. Antisemitism has no place in the liberation of the Palestinian people,’ she wrote last year.
Bella was born in Washington, D.C., where she spent the first four years of her life growing up around relatives from her Palestinian side.
But after her parents split when Bella was four, she and her siblings – Gigi and Anwar – relocated to Santa Barbara, California, with their mother.
Many people took to Twitter to criticise the model
She previously revealed her ‘sadness’ at being denied the opportunity to grow up in ‘Muslim culture’ with her Palestinian father during an interview with GQ.
She said she would have loved to have studied and practised the religion as a child, but ‘wasn’t given that’ opportunity.
Bella added that was often the only Arab girl in her class at school, which resulted in her being regularly subjected to racist bullying and left her feeling ‘sad and lonely
‘I was with my Palestinian side [of the family in D.C.]’, she said. ‘And I got extracted when we moved to California.
‘I would have loved to grow up and be with my dad every day and studying and really being able to practice, just in general being able to live in a Muslim culture, but I wasn’t given that.’
She added of her upbringing in Santa Barbara, where she faced ‘racist name-calling:’ ‘For so long I was missing that part of me, and it made me really, really sad and lonely.’
Cher served as last night’s headline performer along with Blackpink alum Lisa and rising star Tyla — making it the show’s first ever all-woman musical line-up.
But there has been a backlash on X, formerly Twitter, with criticisms of what were seen as toned-down production values lacking glitz and ‘woke’ efforts.
The lingerie brand was famed for its sultry catwalks which featured the likes of Cara Delevingne and Miranda Kerr as its ‘Angels’.
Grace Elizabeth, Eva Herzigova, Valentina Sampaio, Jill Kortleve, Carla Bruni, Paula Soares, Bella Hadid and Adriana Lima attend the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
Rocking the iconic angel wings, Gigi Hadid opened the 2024 Victoria’s Secret Fashion show as it made its triumphant return on Tuesday night
Models were seen in the past strutting down the catwalk in 10ft white feathered wings, thongs and basques – yet the new show has been viewed as a letdown by many.
‘Victoria’s Secret came back with the most boring show ever’, said one poster, while another wrote: ‘The Victoria’s Secret show looks so modern and boring now, I’m disappointed.’
A separate commenter said: ‘Victoria Secret has yet to listen to our public demands. This is not the show we wanted. Everyone’s hair is flat, no extremely tall models, the entire production is different.’
Another remarked: ‘Victoria Secret really said go woke, go broke.’
Other comments included: ‘The new Victoria’s secret fashion show feels so SOULLESS omg… and like why are they playing fake crowd cheering sounds? where’s the iconic runway???’
Another viewer posted: ‘This was cute but it wasn’t enough… we need to bring back the glitter runway, more lively performances!
‘What happened to the dedicated sets per look, close up of the looks, backstage chaos let’s get back to our roots #VSFashionShow2024! The inclusion was okay but I guess…
‘The OGs chewed a lot the new girls, we were missing plots like who was new [Angels], who were the old, why should we fall in love with them?.. etc. A lot of no personality haute couture walking this is #VSFashionShow2024 where are the smiles, kisses and waves?!’
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