TikTok Removes Huda Kattan’s Video Promoting Anti-Israel Conspiracies Amid Backlash

Beauty mogul falsely blames Israel for World Wars, 9/11, and Oct. 7 attacks; TikTok removes video as critics call remarks antisemitic and urge Sephora to cut ties with Huda Beauty

TikTok has taken down a controversial video posted by Huda Kattan, founder of the billion-dollar cosmetics brand Huda Beauty, after she shared a clip promoting false conspiracy theories that blamed Israel for several historic global tragedies. The video, which has since been removed, sparked widespread backlash and calls for retailers to drop the brand.

According to reports from CNN and the BBC, Kattan made inflammatory and historically inaccurate claims in the video, suggesting Israel was responsible for World War I, World War II, the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and even Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

“Is this crazy? Like, I had a feeling — I was like, ‘Are they behind every world war?’ Yes,” Kattan said in the clip, which was reportedly posted to one of her TikTok accounts with either 1.7 million or 11.2 million followers, though it remains unclear which account was used.

These remarks have drawn strong condemnation from watchdog groups and the public. The Anti-Defamation League issued a statement to the BBC calling the video “irresponsible and dangerous,” saying it echoed “some of the oldest and most pernicious antisemitic tropes.” A spokesperson added, “Having such a big platform for your business and choosing to use it to spread antisemitic conspiracy theories is inflammatory, irresponsible, and dangerous.”

TikTok confirmed the video’s removal for violating its community guidelines, which prohibit misinformation that may cause significant harm to individuals or society. “In a global community, it is natural for people to have different opinions, but we seek to operate on a shared set of facts and reality,” TikTok stated.

Kattan, once celebrated for her journey from finance professional to self-made beauty icon, built Huda Beauty into an empire after launching the brand in 2013 with her sisters, Mona and Alya. The brand reportedly generates about $200 million in annual sales and was valued at $1.2 billion in 2017.

However, the controversy has now led to mounting pressure on Sephora — the sole mass-market retailer for Huda Beauty — to sever ties. Social media users have flooded Sephora’s comment sections, urging the company to drop the brand and issue a public statement condemning Kattan’s remarks.

As of now, Kattan has not publicly commented on the incident or the removal of the video.

The fallout serves as a reminder of the influence held by public figures and the responsibility that comes with large platforms, especially when addressing sensitive and historically significant topics.