L'Oreal hijab model steps down from campaign over backlash on 'anti-Israel' tweets
Khan was the first woman in a hijab to be part of the mainstream advert for haircare. Photo: Instagram
(Web Desk) – England’s beauty blogger Amena Khan, who was recently part of L’Oreal shampoo campaign with her hijab on, has announced that she is stepping down.
Khan was the first woman in a hijab to be part of the mainstream advert for haircare. But the beauty blogger recently announced her decision of stepping down from the campaign on her official Instagram page, reported the BBC.
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The beauty blogger first posted the news of her hair care campaign on her social media, which has been removed after her announcement. Photo: Instagram
In her social media post, Khan stated that she is stepping down from the campaign “because of the current conversations surrounding it”.
Her decision comes in the wake of the discovery of tweets she wrote in 2014, which was branded by some as “anti-Israel”.
The decision to step down came days after she officially announced her part in a mainstream advert for hair care.
In her Instagram post she says: "I recently took part in a campaign, which excited me because it celebrated inclusivity."
She goes on to explain that she is stepping down "with regret" because "the current conversations surrounding it detract from the positive and inclusive sentiment that it set out to deliver".
The original tweets written by Khan has been removed from social media but the blogger has apologised and said she’s sorry for the “upset and hurt” her tweets have caused.
"Championing diversity is one of my passions, I don t discriminate against anyone," she adds.
Amena had hoped her role would inspire and empower other women who wear headscarves. In an interview earlier she had said that, “it’s a platform for diverse voices and women who don’t fit the very narrow mould of beauty”.
A BBC’s report cited the spokesperson for L Oreal Paris as saying that they had recently been made aware of a series of tweets by Khan.
"We appreciate that Amena has since apologised for the content of these tweets and the offence they have caused.”
"L Oreal Paris is committed to tolerance and respect towards all people. We agree with her decision to step down from the campaign."
