The Palestinian-American supermodel Bella Hadid, who served as the face and brand ambassador for the luxury fashion house Dior since 2016, has been replaced by Israeli model May Tager in their new ad campaign.
The move has taken many fans by surprise and led to online backlash.
The news of Dior's decision to replace Bella Hadid with May Tager was reported by the Turkish news agency Yeni Şafak English, although neither Dior nor Hadid have issued an official statement regarding the change. It is unclear whether Bella Hadid has been completely dropped by the French fashion house.
A statement in a local Israeli newspaper mentioned that Dior's choice to feature Israeli model May Tager in their campaign, a role previously held by Bella Hadid, who has been an advocate for the Palestinian cause and a vocal critic of Israel, was noteworthy, given the hesitation of many companies worldwide to openly support Israel.
Online reactions to the news have been mixed. Some criticised Dior for the decision, citing other controversies the brand has been involved in, while others expressed their intention to reconsider their luxury purchases.
Bella Hadid had previously spoken about her health issues and the possibility of her continued absence from significant fashion shows due to her ongoing treatment. She shared her journey to recovery with her followers on social media, stating that her health issues had taken a toll on her but that she was now "finally healthy."
The Palestinian model has said that her activism for the cause has cost her friends and business. She is certain that if she had started speaking about the issue at the age of 20, she would not have the respect in the industry she has today.
Bella's sister Gigi Hadid is also vocal about her support for Palestine and she was criticised by the Israeli government for calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.