Blogger Amena Khan has apologised for any “upset and hurt” caused by her messages regarding Palestine and Israel.
Her appointment as L’Oreal haircare’s first hijabi model made headlines when it was announced but, days later, Amena Khan has resigned from her role with the beauty giant.
The British style and beauty blogger revealed on Monday that she had stepped down following backlash over past tweets regarding the Middle East.
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While the messages dating back to 2014 have since been deleted, The Telegraph reports Khan had referred to Israel as an “illegal state”.
In a post addressed to UK TV presenter Jon Snow, she wrote: “Your children of Gaza piece was incredibly moving. Israel is a sinister state & the one who suffer most are innocent children.”
Khan, who had been picked to feature in an inclusive advert for L’Oréal’s Elvive range, apologised for her messages as she announced her resignation.
“I deeply regret the content of the tweets I made in 2014, and sincerely apologise for the upset and and hurt that they have caused,” the blogger, who has more than 577,000 followers on Instagram, wrote.
“Championing diversity is one of my passions, I don’t discriminate against anyone. I have chosen to delete them as they do not represent the message of harmony that I stand for.
“I recently took part in a campaign, which excited me because it celebrated inclusivity. With deep regret, I’ve decided to step down from this campaign because the current conversations surrounding it detract from the positive and inclusive sentiment that it set out to deliver.”
Khan’s appointment had been applauded when it was first revealed last week, with many praising the beauty brand for showcasing a Muslim woman in a mainstream haircare campaign.
In the advert, the blogger had drawn attention to the fact she’s just concerned about her hair’s health as women who wear theirs uncovered.
“Whether or not your hair’s on display, it doesn’t affect how much you care about it,” Khan said.
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Following her decision to stand down, L’Oréal released a statement stating the brand appreciates “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.”
Images: Amena Khan/Instagram
