Kamal Ghorui
What started as internet outrage has now turned into something way more personal – and honestly, way more awkward. As boycott calls against Huda Beauty keep spreading online, fans noticed something that felt… big. Mona Kattan, Huda’s sister and long-time partner in the brand, quietly unfollowed her. No statement. No drama-filled post. Just one click, and everyone clocked it.In social media land, that’s not subtle. That’s loud.All this kicked off after Huda shared a video about the protests in Iran. Many people, especially Iranians and activists, felt the video echoed the government’s side of the story and didn’t reflect what protestors are actually facing. The backlash was immediate. And the contrast with Mona made it even messier, she had earlier posted in support of the protestors. So when the unfollow happened, people read between the lines. The beauty world definitely did a double take.For a lot of folks, this wasn’t just about a “bad post.” It felt like real pain and real voices were being brushed aside. That’s when the boycott talk picked up speed. Hashtags started trending, and people began urging others to stop buying Huda Beauty altogether.
Then things got even more tense. Mona reportedly reshared her older post backing the protests after the controversy blew up again. That only made people more convinced the sisters aren’t seeing eye to eye, at least not in public.And because the internet never forgets, old stuff came back up too. Past controversies linked to Huda resurfaced, including earlier comments about Israel that Jewish groups had criticised for spreading harmful and misleading ideas. Those posts were later taken down from TikTok for breaking guidelines, but now they’re back in the conversation.Put it all together, and you can see why public opinion has shifted. What some once called “fearless” now feels, to critics, careless and out of touch.This isn’t just an online storm anymore. Shoppers are calling out big stores like Sephora, asking them to rethink carrying the brand. Petitions are floating around, comment sections are packed, and people are basically saying: we want brands with a spine, not brands chasing views.Huda hasn’t said anything about the latest backlash yet. That silence is only making the noise louder. When your face is your brand, every word – and every pause – counts. It’s not just about opinions; it hits the business too.Not long ago, she was being praised as one of the BBC’s most influential women. Now, that influence is being questioned, challenged, and by some, flat-out rejected.One unfollow might look small. But online? It can say a lot. Sometimes the biggest statement isn’t a long apology or a viral post – it’s just hitting “unfollow.”
