Islamabad: Pakistani actress Hania Aamir has come under fire on social media after she shared an Instagram reel wearing a dress from Zara during pre-Christmas celebrations.
The multinational clothing brand has been facing boycott calls after a recent advertising campaign sparked massive outrage for drawing parallels to the destruction in Gaza amid the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Aamir shared the reel from pre-Christmas celebrations, wearing a red dress from Zara, leading to online criticism. Netizens were quick to express disappointment, accusing her of promoting a brand that supports genocide in Palestine.
One social media user wrote, “Shame on you Hania Amir for not having current affairs and reality check of Today’s world. Yet you are considered as most influential lady both in India and Pakistan. SHAME ON YOU.”
Another commented, “You’re wearing Zara! For someone as chronically online as yourself I would assume you’d know what brands to promote!! #boycotzara.”
“How tone deaf do you have to be to do this? ur definitely not unaware of how Zara is a pro-Israel brand and how it recently mocked the Palestinian martyrs in its latest campaign?? yet u bought a dress from Zara?? ur choosing to fund the genocide in Palestine. ur money is the reason why thousands and thousands of Palestinian children are killed,” a third user wrote.
Zara’s recent advertisement campaign featured model Kristen McMenamy posing in a room with mannequins covered in white shrouds surrounded by rubble.
Netizens were quick to notice the resemblance to the dead bodies of people killed in Israel’s attack on Gaza. The images led to significant backlash and the trending hashtag “#BoycottZara.”
Pro-Palestine activists flooded Zara’s Instagram with comments adorned with Palestinian flags.
Zara responded with an official statement, explaining that the controversial photos were taken in September before the ongoing conflict and were part of a routine content-refreshing process.
Despite this, the fashion company removed the campaign from its website following pressure from pro-Palestine activists calling for a boycott.