Israeli apparel ad starring Bar Refaeli slammed as 'ignorant' and 'Islamophobic'
A new ad starring model Bar Refaeli is being panned as “racist,” “ignorant,” and “Islamophobic.”
Refaeli, 33, shared the campaign video for the Israeli brand Hoodies on her Facebook page on Monday. In it, she starts off standing solemnly wearing a niqab while a quote that reportedly reads “Is it Iran here?” (translated from Hebrew) appears on the screen.
She then rips off her veil and shakes her hair loose, revealing brightly colored athleisure from the company, of which she is spokesperson and part owner, as a song plays with the lyrics, “It’s all about freedom, finally breaking the chains, the cost of my freedom…”
The campaign is called “Freedom Is Basic,” and according to the Jerusalem Post, it will feature other notable Israeli figures such as transgender actress Stav Strashko and reality star Tahounia Rubel.
@hoodiesil
Posted by Bar Refaeli on Monday, October 29, 2018
But the ad drew so many negative comments on social media that, according to BuzzFeed News, the supermodel deleted the spot from Instagram, and Hoodies followed suit on Instagram and Facebook. However, the ad can still be viewed on Refaeli’s Facebook page.
On its Instagram page, Hoodies now features a similar ad starring a man who rips off a hoodie.
This has to be the most ignorant and racist ad I’ve ever seen and I can’t believe a whole company approved this.. I’m disgusted and at a loss of words. pic.twitter.com/oiY1XB27EH
— mariam (@fancydaisiesx) October 30, 2018
This is very weird… #BarRefaeli wearing a burka and claiming her freedom taking it off… Isn’t freedom wearing what you want? Ah, don’t forget to respect differences… #muslim #burqa #islam #women #hoodiesilhttps://t.co/djtlps7mg5
— Elisabetta (@eleesabetter) October 29, 2018
An #Israeli supermodel, @BarRefaeli, just launched an overtly Islamophobic ad that insinuates that #Muslim women are not free.@TellMamaUK @cjwerleman @doamuslims pic.twitter.com/vm7F6emsGU
— Chronicles of Shame (@ShameChronicles) October 30, 2018
@BarRefaeli this is just stupid. My idea of freedom is wearing hijab and if I want to wear niqab I will. This is what creates islamaphobia. pic.twitter.com/dBn41rKRDD
— themodestcoverup (@Demodestcoverup) October 30, 2018
Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:
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