- Hadid only started working with the cosmetics giant seven months ago
- Charlotte Tilbury say Hadid remains a ‘great friend’ of the brand
Cosmetics brand Charlotte Tilbury has parted ways with Bella Hadid as the face of its incredibly popular lipstick range.
The move comes after the model, whose father is Palestinian, was criticised for expressing support for Gaza. But the company last night strongly denied this was the reason why she was suddenly dropped as a brand ambassador.
Ms Hadid’s departure came as a surprised to staff at the top British make-up brand.
One source said bosses were so excited about a forthcoming lipstick launch featuring Hadid that they had sent videos to their staff to tell them they had re-signed her.
Bosses were thrilled after sales rocketed when they first began working with Hadid seven months ago, describing the boost in sales as the ‘Bella Hadid effect.’
Charlotte Tilbury herself featured in a promotional video with Miss Hadid last year in which she tells her: ‘Bella, darling! I’m so happy you’re here’.
Ms Tilbury herself featured in a promotional video with Hadid last year in which she tells her: ‘Bella, darling! I’m so happy you’re here.’ But now Hadid has been replaced by an unknown model
The move comes after the model, whose father is Palestinian, was criticised for expressing support for Gaza. But the company last night strongly denied this was the reason why she was suddenly let go as a brand ambassador
Ms Hadid replied: ‘Charlotte, darling! I’m so happy to be here with you, I love you.’ To which Miss Tilbury replied: ‘I love you too.’
But now Hadid has been replaced by a unknown model. Charlotte Tilbury last night confirmed that Hadid’s contract had come to an end but insisted that her political views on the Israel-Hamas war were not a factor in the decision.
Ms Hadid, whose property developer father Mohammed Hadid, 75, is Palestinian, has courted controversy for online posts expressing her support for people in Gaza.
In an Instagram post last October – soon after Hamas slaughted 1,200 Israelis in a terror attack – the model wrote: ‘I’ve been sent hundreds of death threats daily, my phone number has been leaked, and my family has felt to be in danger. But I can not be silenced any longer. Fear is not an option. The people and children of Palestine, especially in Gaza, cannot afford our silence. We are not brave – they are.
Ms Hadid, whose father is property developer Mohamed Hadid (pictured), 75, has courted controversy for online comments expressing her support for Gaza
‘It’s important to understand the hardship of what it is to be Palestinian, in a world that sees us as terrorists resisting peace. It’s harmful, it’s shameful, and it’s categorically untrue.’
When she was voted Model of the Year by the British Fashion Council, Hadid said in her acceptance speech: ‘This is for the Palestinian children… This is for any child, immigrant or refugee.’
A source at Charlotte Tilbury told The Mail on Sunday: ‘Staff were expecting, and had been promised promotional materials featuring Bella Hadid as the front woman for the re-promotion of the Air Brush Flawless range. They had sent out videos and content to staff bragging about getting Bella Hadid as the face of the re-promotion because her endorsement sells out makeup products like hot cakes. Charlotte Tilbury dubbed this the ‘Bella Hadid effect’ but then all of a sudden, nothing.’
After parting ways with Charlotte Tilbury, Hadid now plans to unveil her own cosmetics and wellness company, Orebella, in May. She has previously spoken about losing jobs and friends due to her pro Palestinian stance, saying: ‘I had so many companies that stopped working with me, I have friends that completely dropped me.’
Last night, a spokesperson for Charlotte Tilbury said: ‘We’re thrilled that Bella is launching her own range later this year. We have always loved working with Bella and while her contract has come to an end, she remains a great friend of both Charlotte and the brand, and we look forward to creating more magical beauty moments together in the future.’
A statement from Charlotte Tilbury Beauty added: ”It is absolutely not the case that any personal views held by Bella impacted our contract or relationship with her. We’re thrilled that Bella is launching her own range later this year and we wish her the best. We have always loved working with Bella and while her contract has come to an end, she remains a great friend of both Charlotte and the brand and we look forward to creating more magical beauty moments together in the future.”
