Rare Beauty's pledge to support Palestine sparks backlash
About a week after pop star Selena Gomez broke her silence on the ongoing Israel occupation of Palestine which resulted in a heated backlash from fans, a recent post by her make-up brand Rare Beauty has sparked yet another controversy.
Rare Beauty posted a statement that accompanied a photo of a maroon square against the words "Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza".
In the statement, the make-up brand condemned the Israeli airstrikes against Gaza and said that Palestinian civilians must be protected.
But they also acknowledged what happened on Oct 7, and wrote: "We remain heartbroken by the horrible terror attack against innocent civilians in Israel on Oct 7, many of them also children."
Urging everyone to support humanitarian organisations working tirelessly to provide aid and relief to those in need, the brand said they would be donating to the International Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies - Magen David Adom and Palestinian Red Crescent Society.
"We will also be donating to UNICEF to help get urgent medical relief and resources to the children of Gaza," they wrote.
The statement went on to address how their community is made up of many people from different backgrounds, urging everyone to treat each other with kindness.
Gomez and her team weren't spared from any backlash this time around as well as followers called them out for labelling the ongoing war against Gaza as a humanitarian crisis instead of a genocide.
"This is a genocide. What kind of a statement is this. Why don't you try to help on your main Instagram account where you have many more followers. Your silence makes you complicit Selena," wrote @basicvegangirl.
Another user said: "Okay this is a good start a month later but what about your Zionist CEO making/liking Islamophobic posts and following the IDF, the very organisation causing this genocide to begin with?"
User @rosypirani said that Rare Beauty's post is misleading. "Selena Gomez's Rare Beauty announced it will be donating to the 'Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza' but lists Magen David Adom as one of the organisations it is donating to.
"Magen David Adom has ZERO mention of Gaza on its site and, instead, has a whole section dedicated to 'Israel under Attak'. Rare's post is super misleading: do not let it fool you. This organisation is not helping Gaza. Selena, do better!"
"This reeks of damage control, The CEO of her company is still a hard-core Zionist so it doesn't change much really does it. Especially if she's going to call it a humanitarian crisis as if it's a natural disaster and not state-sponsored terrorism. Either call it a genocide or keep it pushing. This both-siding isn't going to work anymore," wrote @justmadiha.
Rare Beauty's CEO is Scott Friedman, who Internet users have revealed to allegedly be pro-Israel and follow the IDF as well as a Jewish social media page that supports Zionism.
Previously, Gomez posted a neutral stance on the ongoing conflict. In an Instastory, post she wrote "People being tourtured and killed or any act of hate towards any one group is horrific.
"We need to protect ALL people, especially children and stop the violence for good.
"I'm sorry if my words will never be enough for everyone or a hashtag. I just can't stand by innocent people getting hurt."
Fans were divided over her statement which resulted in Gomez being on the receiving end of criticism.
For the record, Gomez is the most followed woman on Instagram, with 430 million followers to date.
Two days ago, it was reported that Gomez joined a long list of Hollywood stars to urge the United States President Joe Biden to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
