Luxury fashion brand Dior is encountering massive criticism online after reports appeared that it has replaced Palestinian-American model and long-time brand ambassador Bella Hadid with Israeli model May Tager in its latest ad campaign.
“Boycott Dior” shortly began trending on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter) with users posting a barrage of messages on the platform.
The news appears as more than a month after the invasion of Israel by the Hamas group in which 1,400 people were killed. Israel has launched a significant offensive on Gaza in retaliation.
The news was originally reported by Turkiye’s Yeni Safak and picked up by a local Israeli newspaper. Shortly, it began a debate among social media users who voiced concerns over Dior’s shift from Ms Hadid.
The supermodel has always been known for her vocal backing of the Palestinian issue and criticism of Israeli policies. She has represented Dior since 2016.
Neither Bella Hadid, whose father is Palestinian, nor the brand, has commented on her alleged replacement so far.
May Tager is a prominent model with a rich resume of international brands such as Giorgio Armani, Louis Vuitton, Victoria’s Secret, and many others.
According to Ynet News, she was raised in the Israeli town of Ganei Tikva, where her parents moved, from Denmark.
Some posts emerged on her Instagram last week in which Ms Tager seemed to be the star of Dior’s new holiday campaign ad.
Users on X criticized the luxury fashion house, quoting Dior’s association with Johnny Depp, who was recently in dispute. Some said the decision will make them reconsider their luxury purchases.
One User commented, “The fact that Dior still gives the wife-beater Johnny Depp a platform but cuts off ties with Bella Hadid & instead employs an is*eli despite everything that has happened this past month just tells you everything about that brand.”
“Boycott every brand under LVMH including Dior (if you have the money),” wrote another.
“Thank you @dior for letting us know what genocidal company to boycott next,” a third user said.
