logo
Pulitzer-winning Palestinian author confronts Saint Levant and Huda Kattan: 'Do you really care about Gaza?'

Pulitzer-winning Palestinian author confronts Saint Levant and Huda Kattan: 'Do you really care about Gaza?'

The National3 days ago
Pulitzer Prize-winning Palestinian author Mosab Abu Toha has publicly criticised singer Saint Levant and beauty entrepreneur Huda Kattan, questioning the timing and tone of their new collaboration inspired by Palestinian identity.
The pair recently launched a new shade of Huda Beauty 's Faux Filler Lip Oil called Kalamantina – a reference to Palestinian clementine oranges – in tandem with the release of Saint Levant's latest single of the same name. A promotional photoshoot for the product featured both figures posing in front of a car overflowing with the fruit.
In a post on the brand's Instagram account, Huda Beauty described the release as 'for the homeland', stating that a donation would be made to organisations supporting 'Palestinian agriculture and cultural preservation'. The brand did not, however, specify the amount or whether it would reflect a percentage of the product's proceeds.
Saint Levant, a part-Palestinian singer and rapper, also posted about the collaboration saying, among other musings, that he was 'grateful' that the launch was 'supporting Palestinian agriculture at a time where settler violence and Zionist ethnic cleansing is rising'.
Abu Toha, whose New Yorker essay series chronicling his life during the war and eventual evacuation from Gaza earned him the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary, commented on the post on Monday, expressing frustration and grief over what he saw as the disconnect between the campaign's messaging and the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
'I truly do not understand how you are publishing this love song showing lots of clementines when my people of Gaza are killed while trying to get food,' Abu Toha wrote. 'Do you really care about Gaza? You share this video when 102 people were killed today, including a cousin of mine, while seeking food?'
The author and poet went on to say that supporting Gaza financially was secondary to the people of Gaza's 'feelings as human beings'.
His comments come as suffering in Gaza ' reaches new depths '. At least 59,029 Palestinians have been killed and 142,135 wounded since October 2023. According to a May report by Unicef, more than 50,000 children were either killed or injured in the enclave.
The criticism echoes remarks made in recent weeks by other cultural figures. At a performance in Abu Dhabi, American comedian Dave Chappelle called out Palestinian-American musician DJ Khaled for his silence, saying: 'People are starving.'
The Kalamantina campaign has received both praise and backlash online, with another comment that has received more than 500 likes calling the campaign 'tone deaf'.
Neither Saint Levant nor Huda Kattan have publicly responded to Abu Toha's comments, which are no longer visible beneath Saint Levant's post.
Both Kattan and Saint Levant have spoken out in support of Palestine in the past numerous times. Saint Levant called the Israel-Gaza war a " brutal genocide" on stage Coachella in 2024. Kattan has commented her social media platforms and by pledging $1 million to humanitarian organisations.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Brand Dubai, General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs partner to highlight Dubai's summertime attractions
Brand Dubai, General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs partner to highlight Dubai's summertime attractions

Zawya

time3 hours ago

  • Zawya

Brand Dubai, General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs partner to highlight Dubai's summertime attractions

Dialling up the excitement surrounding the #DubaiDestinations summer campaign, Brand Dubai, the creative arm of the Government of Dubai Media Office, has partnered with the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai to highlight the very best of Dubai's summertime experiences for visitors. As part of the initiative, people approaching the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs will be greeted with souvenir 'passports' introducing them to the city's myriad summer experiences in an engaging and fun format. Using a QR code provided in the passport, visitors can tap into the Dubai Destinations website to access interactive guides and curated itineraries designed to help them explore Dubai through the summer. Slated to go online on July 24, the activation is part of wider efforts to promote Dubai's diverse tourism offerings and enhance the overall visitor experience, aligning with Brand Dubai's commitment to showcasing the city's notable attractions and multicultural milieu. The unique initiative is expected to enable thousands of residents and visitors to make the most of their Dubai sojourns with their families and loved ones. For more details and related content, visit @BrandDubai on Instagram and #DubaiDestinations.

John Dory Seafood Market review: Five dishes to try at Belarusian brand's first Dubai outpost
John Dory Seafood Market review: Five dishes to try at Belarusian brand's first Dubai outpost

The National

time4 hours ago

  • The National

John Dory Seafood Market review: Five dishes to try at Belarusian brand's first Dubai outpost

Tucked into one of the deeper nooks of Dubai Festival City Mall's The Market Island, a modern food hall with communal seating, this Belarusian seafood brand is making its first international foray after more than a decade of service in Minsk. You can tell straight away this is one of the more ambitious offerings in any UAE shopping mall food hall. It's sprawling and it looks great. There's an open kitchen, a raw bar serving oysters, and a sit-down space with a mix of couple and group seating all tied together in a light, well-paced layout. The kitchen snakes through the restaurant, with the counter finished in soft green and engraved with fish, a quiet design detail that runs throughout. Focused on serving seafood nose to tail but relaxed in its execution, John Dory Seafood Market delivers some of the best fish you'll find in any mall outlet. It is family-friendly and does what a good mall restaurant should: make you forget you're in a mall. Here are five dishes to try. Oysters (various prices) No oysters taste the same, and that's the point of John Dory's offerings. While sold individually, a recommended idea is to curate your own set and explore the differences in brine, texture and depth. The selection is thoughtful with oysters sourced from France to Fujairah. Served on ice, each has a distinct character. The Gillardeau No 2 (Dh45) offers a meaty depth, while the Dibba Bay No 3 (Dh18), the most local of the lot, is crisp, saline and fresh. The Speciale Krystale No 2 (Dh32) is buttery and rich while the Fine de Claire Geay No 2 (Dh13) is clean and delicate, and best saved for the end depending on how you sequence your tray. Other options include the Fines de Normandie No 3 (Dh10), Speciale Poget No 3 (Dh37) and Speciale Belle-Ile No 3 (Dh25). At Dh180 for all seven, it's best shared with friends. Seychellois yellowfin tuna tiradito (Dh60) Bright, tart and dressed for the occasion. This is a raw dish that's all about balance and texture. Thinly-sliced tuna is expertly laid over a tangy tomato ponzu, garnished with crisp potato straws and a drizzle of Japanese mayo blended with kimchi. The acidity is sharp enough to cut the fat, while the crunch of the straws adds contrast. It reminded me a little of more upmarket crevice. It's beautiful to look at and wonderfully refreshing. Carabineros prawns (Dh300) This is the most indulgent item on the menu, and it announces itself with a bold, no-frills presentation. If you need a reminder that John Dory is, at its core, a seafood fishmonger restaurant, then this is it. Large, vivid red prawns arrive lightly grilled and drizzled with lime. It is all about freshness here. The flesh is sweet and tender. But the real treat, and this is not for the faint-hearted, is the head. That is where you will find the rich umami with all its flavour and fat. Yes, it is pricey but for seafood connoisseurs but this is a treat you owe yourself. Octopus hotdog (Dh75) Now, this is a case where looks can deceive. It looks like a roll with a big piece of octopus in the middle. But once you bite into it, you're caught off guard in a good way. While the tentacle is fresh, smoky and soft, the sauce is the real standout. A base layer of Japanese mayo and kimchi sits underneath the tentacle, while a layer of melted cheese ties it all together. The sauce is spicy enough and coats everything just right. It is one of the most surprising dishes on the menu. Bold and satisfying and Dubai exclusive, this treat could be the UAE outpost's calling card. Dry-aged tuna fillet (Dh65) Years of eating canned tuna as a student meant I rarely gave the fish much thought, so I approached this dish with some hesitation. This version is more considered. White yellowfin tuna from the Seychelles is aged in-house for 10 to 14 days, then lightly seared and sliced into neat, delicate strips. The ageing gives it a firmer, meatier texture, somewhere between sashimi and a lean steak. The minimal seasoning allows the concentrated flavour to come through. It is slightly nutty, with a gentle umami depth that lingers. While it may not convert the sceptical, it shows how tuna can be reimagined in an elegant way. Save or splurge Dishes range from Dh40 to Dh300, with plenty on offer for diners of different appetites and varying passion for crustaceans. The value holds up, especially when you consider the sourcing and technique involved. Between the fish counter, raw bar and dining space, John Dory Seafood Market shows what a premium food hall can be. It proves that accessible, well-executed, even polished dining can exist in a mall without losing integrity. For those wanting to take some of that experience home, the adjacent seafood store sells pre-marinated fillets and ready-to-bake meals. John Dory Seafood Market at Dubai Festival City Mall is open daily from 12pm to 11pm. Reservations can be made by calling 052 240 3898.

Michael Cinco, Mrs Keepa and Les Benjamins set to return as Dubai Fashion Week announces new dates
Michael Cinco, Mrs Keepa and Les Benjamins set to return as Dubai Fashion Week announces new dates

The National

timea day ago

  • The National

Michael Cinco, Mrs Keepa and Les Benjamins set to return as Dubai Fashion Week announces new dates

Dubai Fashion Week has announced the dates for its next season, which will run from September 1 to 6. Returning to Dubai Design District – which is celebrating its 10th anniversary – the event will once again provide a platform to regional labels while introducing more international names to the savvy UAE audience. Showcasing the spring/summer 2026 collections before the main women's wear schedules take place in New York, London, Milan and Paris, Dubai Fashion Week promises a strong line-up. The provisional timetable is a blend of ready-to-wear and couture, taking in familiar names and new arrivals. French brand Weinsanto is returning, supported by the Federation de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, the governing body of France's fashion industry, as well as being on the DFW council. Also showing once more is Iraqi-British designer Tara Babylon, and the Turkish streetwear name Les Benjamins. Other returners from the region include That Concept, FLTRD, Dima Ayad, Lili Blanc, Mrs Keepa, Lama Jouni, Heba Jasmi and BLSSD. As the Middle Eastern market becomes increasingly significant for international brands, this season features the arrival of labels from Germany, Croatia and the Netherlands. Croatian brand XD Xenia will make its DFW debut, as will Canada's Jozeph Diarbakerli. Other designers making their first appearance include Fioletowy (Poland), London School of Trends (India) and New York's Otte. For couture, the Malaysian brand Maison Rizman Ruzaini will return, as will Dubai's Michael Cinco and Kresha Bajaj from India. Dubai Fashion Week was co-founded in 2022 by the Dubai Design District, Arab Fashion Council and Tecom Group PJSC. 'This season represents a powerful evolution of our platform. We're not just showcasing collections – we're building a creative economy rooted in diversity, design diplomacy, and long-term commercial impact,' said Mohammed Aqra, chief strategy officer of Arab Fashion Council. 'DFW spring-summer 2026 is a bold statement of where fashion is going, and the world is watching.' The Threads Talks series, in conjunction with Meta, is also set to come back. Discussion panels and seminars will consider industry challenges such as AI integration and sustainability. Khadija Al Bastaki, senior vice president of Dubai Design District, says the event has expanded immensely in three years. 'Dubai Fashion Week shows how we have grown together,' she said. 'With a rich legacy of influencing the regional landscape, DFW is actively championing sustainability, innovation and diversity in the global design narrative, cementing Dubai's position as the destination of choice for fashion and creative talent from around the world.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store