Huda Kattan Tries Self-Defence over Backlash After Antisemitic Conspiracy Claims

Beauty entrepreneur and Huda Beauty founder Huda Kattan is at the center of controversy after posting a video on social media accusing Israel of orchestrating major global tragedies, including World War I, World War II, the September 11 attacks, and the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023. The video, which was removed by TikTok for violating community guidelines, sparked widespread condemnation for promoting antisemitic conspiracy theories.

In the clip, Kattan alleged that Israel is behind "evil systems" manipulating global events for centuries, accusing the country of "hiding pedophiles," a claim echoing long-discredited antisemitic tropes. The American Jewish Committee condemned the video, highlighting Kattan’s propagation of dangerous myths involving Jewish control and criminality.

With 1.8 million followers on TikTok and over 57 million followers on Instagram, Kattan’s statements have significant reach. The backlash included petitions urging Sephora to remove Huda Beauty products from its stores, gathering tens of thousands of signatures.

Sephora responded with a statement affirming its commitment to reviewing the issue and rejecting hate, harassment, and misinformation, though no final decision has been announced. The Anti-Defamation League praised Sephora’s response, warning that brands must be held accountable when their founders spread hate.

In a subsequent video, Kattan defended herself against antisemitism accusations, calling the backlash a “smear campaign.” She asserted that criticizing Israel’s actions is not antisemitic, and described the reaction as an attempt to silence her voice. Kattan emphasized her intent to speak out for humanity and peace, denying any direct mention of Jewish people in her statements.

This incident underscores the ongoing tensions between freedom of speech, criticism of Israel, and the boundaries that define antisemitism in public discourse.