One poet's journey through wars in Sudan and Gaza
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Khaleej Times
4 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Huda Beauty to donate 100% of campaign proceeds to medical aid in Gaza
Huda Beauty recently announced it will donate 100 per cent of sales from its recent Kalamantina collaboration to Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), in support of life-saving medical work in Gaza. The campaign, created in partnership with Palestinian-French musician Saint Levant, whose real name is Marwan, was launched to help preserve Palestinian agriculture. However, as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens and access to food and aid remains limited, the beauty brand has chosen to redirect the full amount raised, totalling $210,000 (Dh771,000), to support the life-saving work on the ground of Doctors Without Borders. 'Support on the ground has become even more crucial,' the company said. 'At a time when we are witnessing genocide in Gaza, we are trying to find a way to make an impact where we can. Please continue to use your platforms to spread awareness. You are making a difference.' The decision to redirect funds comes in the wake of public backlash over the visual direction of the Kalamantina campaign. Named after Saint Levant's track released earlier this year, the Kalamantina lip oil also features a clementine scent. 'This is for the homeland,' Kattan wrote on the brand's Instagram page, alongside orange and Palestinian flag emojis. 'In honor of this collaboration, Huda Beauty will make a donation to organisations supporting Palestinian agriculture and cultural preservation.' While the clementine-themed imagery was meant to celebrate Palestinian citrus farming, many found the abundance of fruit depicted in the marketing — such as an overflowing car trunk and fruit labelled 'Grown by Huda n' Saint Levant' — tone-deaf amid widespread hunger and food blockades in Gaza. In the promotional clips, Huda Kattan, Huda Beauty's founder, and Saint Levant are seen dancing next to a vintage car filled with clementines and posing with the product. The visuals sparked criticism online, with many calling it "heartless" in light of reports of starvation and blocked aid in Gaza. Watch the campaign below: View this post on Instagram A post shared by HUDA BEAUTY (@hudabeauty) 'As an art director, I think the concept could have been handled better than using tons of fruit—even if it's fake—for a cause that is literally about the lack of food,' one commenter wrote. 'Being conservative and empathetic is way more good-looking than this.' Another user said, "I wish those kids could have these fruits..." Another user added: 'Forgive me, but having a photo op with this much fruit while Palestinians in Gaza are starving is Arabs keep missing the point.' Despite the backlash, Huda Beauty reiterated that the campaign's intention was to raise both awareness and tangible support. The redirection of funds to MSF has been seen by many as a meaningful step, with one commenter even saying "this level of sensibility is what the world needs". Both Huda Kattan, Huda Beauty's founder, and Saint Levant have been vocal advocates for Palestinian rights, using their global platforms to highlight the crisis. Saint Levant, who is of Palestinian, Algerian, Serbian, and French descent, took to the Coachella stage in 2024 to speak directly about the war in Gaza. Kattan, meanwhile, has frequently shared videos, infographics, and updates about the situation in Gaza on her personal and brand platforms. In 2023, she donated $1 million to humanitarian organisations including Human Appeal and Doctors Without Borders. Just days before the recent announcement, Huda Beauty posted a stark message on Instagram: 'Gaza is being starved. Open the border now." On a separate post, she also posted an infographic warning of a 'man-made famine.' Celebrities supporting Palestine While Kattan and Saint Levant have been consistent in their public advocacy, they are not alone. A growing number of celebrities around the world have expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people and called for an end to the violence in Gaza. Among them is Bella Hadid. The Palestinian-Dutch supermodel has long been one of the most vocal celebrities on the issue, regularly sharing updates, commentary, and historical context to her millions of followers. Veteran actress Susan Sarandon has also consistently expressed support for the Palestinian cause, even facing backlash for her outspoken stance. Dua Lipa has also publicly spoken out against Israeli aggression and called for Palestinian liberation. Canadian artist The Weeknd has also donated to relief efforts and previously posted in support of Palestinian civilians caught in the conflict. Oscar-nominated Mark Ruffalo has also condemned Israeli airstrikes and advocated for Palestinian human rights in multiple interviews and social media posts.
Khaleej Times
10 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Gwyneth Paltrow reportedly paid millions to clean up Astronomer's viral scandal
After tech company Astronomer found itself at the centre of a social media firestorm, thanks to a viral Coldplay concert moment involving its then-CEO and head of HR, Hollywood's Gwyneth Paltrow stepped in to turn all the chaos into calm. Now, her biographer Amy Odell has revealed just how handsomely she was rewarded. In a video posted to Instagram on July 26, Odell claimed that Paltrow was paid 'in the millions' for her short-term role as Astronomer's spokesperson, following the now-infamous concert clip. For context, Odell also shared some of the Goop founder's previous brand deals: $1.6 million for appearing at the Red Sea International Film Festival, a $1.25 million Swarovski contract, and a number of other multi-million dollar endorsements over the years, including with Copper Fit. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Amy Odell (@instamyodell) The drama began when Astronomer's CEO Andy Byron and HR head Kristen Cabot, both married to other people, were caught together on the jumbotron during a Coldplay concert in Boston. Their attempt to duck off-screen only made the moment more meme-worthy, sparking days of online ridicule, headlines, and even commentary from celebrities. The fallout was swift. But Astronomer didn't follow the typical PR playbook. Instead, they brought in Chris Martin's ex-wife, and in a savvy twist of celebrity-meets-crisis-management, Gwyneth Paltrow became the face of their reset. In a video posted by Astronomer on July 25, Paltrow appears poised and playful: 'Hi, I'm Gwyneth Paltrow. I've been hired on a very temporary basis to speak on behalf of the 300+ employees at Astronomer.' She skips over the scandal entirely and instead turns the spotlight to Astronomer's tech, calling it 'the best place to run a patchy airflow, unifying the experience of running data ML and AI pipelines at scale.' Whether the stunt was worth the steep fee is debatable, but in terms of brand visibility, it was a win. Astronomer's new CEO, Pete DeJoy, addressed the attention on LinkedIn, noting that the company has faced tough moments before and always bounced back.
Middle East Eye
a day ago
- Middle East Eye
Ziad Rahbani, icon of Lebanese music and theatre, dies at 69
Ziad Rahbani, one of Lebanon's most influential cultural figures and the son of Arab music legend Fairuz, has died at the age of 69. A playwright, composer, and political commentator, Rahbani shaped the landscape of Lebanese theatre and music with his biting wit, leftist and secular politics, and sharp portrayals of his country's fractured society. "On Saturday at 9:00 am [6am GMT], the heart of the great artist and creator Ziad Rahbani stopped beating," said a statement from the Beirut hospital where the artist, who has long suffered from health problems, was being treated. The son of Fairuz, who turned 90 last year, and the late composer Assi Rahbani, Ziad first rose to prominence in the 1970s. He broke away from the romanticism of his parents' work to create art rooted in social critique and everyday struggles. Tributes poured in for the enfant terrible of Lebanese music, whose theatre productions and songs left an enduring mark on generations of Lebanese - many of whom know his lyrics and playscripts by heart. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Rahbani was a versatile composer and a pioneer of oriental jazz. He mixed traditional Arabic melodies with jazz, funk and classical influences, creating a unique and instantly recognisable sound. Rahbani composed for Fairuz in her later years, bringing political depth to her repertoire. Throughout Lebanon's civil war (1975-1990) and in the decades that followed, Rahbani's plays became spaces where Lebanese audiences confronted their harsh realities. He often highlighted the hardships of Lebanon's working class. His characters were disillusioned citizens, ex-revolutionaries or everyday people caught in the complexities of Lebanon's political and sectarian struggles. Lebanese diva Fairuz talks to her son, Ziad Rahbani, and Armenian conductor Karen Durgarian during rehearsals prior to their concert in Dubai on 23 January 2003 (AFP) One of his most influential plays, Nazl el-Sourour (Happiness Hotel), is a political satire set in a run-down hotel, where two laid-off workers take the guests hostage in a failed attempt at revolution. Through humour and absurdity, the play critiques class divisions and the hollowness of political slogans in pre-war Lebanon. Another one of his landmark works, the 1980 production Film Ameriki Tawil (A Long American Film), is a satirical portrayal of the civil war, set in an asylum where the patients represent different segments of society. Rahbani articulated a collective frustration and longing for change. For many in Lebanon and across the Arab world, his death marks the loss of a singular voice that never stopped asking uncomfortable questions.
