TikTok deletes beauty boss’s video blaming Israel for 9/11, World Wars and 7 October
Huda Beauty founder and influencer Huda Kattan falsely claims Israel causes “every world war” as Jewish groups urge retailers to cut ties
TikTok has removed a video posted by Huda Beauty founder Huda Kattan in which she claimed that Israel was responsible for “every world war”, the 9/11 terror attacks, and the 7 October Hamas massacre – sparking renewed outrage from Jewish groups and urgent calls for UK retailers to cut ties with her brand.
In the video, posted to her 1.7 million TikTok followers on Sunday, the Iraqi-American influencer claimed: “I had a feeling, I was like, were they behind every world war? Yes. Behind 11 September? Absolutely.”
She went on to suggest there was “evidence” that Israel was responsible not only for 9/11 and the 2023 Hamas attacks, which killed around 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage, but also for both World Wars – despite the modern state of Israel not existing at the time.
Kattan also repeated a range of other conspiracy theories, including the unfounded claim that Israel protects paedophiles.
TikTok confirmed on Tuesday that the video had been removed for breaching its community guidelines, which prohibit hate speech and harmful misinformation.
The American Jewish Committee (AJC) wrote in a statement on X: “This isn’t ‘criticism of Israel.’ It’s centuries-old hate, repackaged and broadcast to millions.
“A beauty company spreading this ugliness isn’t just ironic – it’s dangerous … Words have real-life consequences. This rhetoric must be called out, exposed, and condemned.”
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) also condemned the remarks, saying: “These dangerous and historically baseless accusations echo some of the oldest and most pernicious antisemitic tropes.
“Having such a big platform for your business and choosing to use it to spread antisemitic conspiracy theories is inflammatory, irresponsible and dangerous.”
Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) added: “TikTok was right to remove the video. It should now remove Ms Kattan entirely.
“When someone with a platform of this size spreads these kinds of conspiracy theories, the consequences for Jews are extremely serious.
“To victim-blame Israel for the Hamas massacre is grotesque.”
This is not the first time Kattan, who has more than 50 million followers on Instagram and was previously listed in Forbes and BBC 100 Women, has spread inflammatory falsehoods about Israel and Jews.
As reported by Jewish News last month, Kattan posted a conspiracy theory accusing Israel of harvesting Palestinian children’s organs, alongside a video referencing the work of Israeli anthropologist Meira Weiss. She also reposted content describing Jewish settlers as “inbreds” and claimed Israel was “deliberately murdering Palestinian children”.
Her Dubai-based beauty empire, founded in 2013 with her sisters Mona and Alya, is valued at nearly £900 million and remains stocked in major retailers including Boots, Selfridges, Sephora, Harrods, Cult Beauty, and Harvey Nichols.
Sephora addressed the matter on Wednesday, 7 August, in a statement to journalist Elizabeth Wagmeister: “Sephora is driven by its mission to create a welcoming and inclusive shopping experience for all. We recognise that comments from one of our brand partners have raised concerns and want to be clear: promoting hate, harassment, or misinformation does not align with our values or code of conduct.”
Jewish advocacy groups have urged retailers to cut ties with Huda Beauty in light of her comments.
Jewish News has contacted all listed stockists in the UK for comment.
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