MAC, Etude House cut ties with Kuwaiti beauty blogger after rants vs OFWs

Don Kevin Hapal

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MAC, Etude House cut ties with Kuwaiti beauty blogger after rants vs OFWs
(UPDATED) MAC Cosmetics, one of the world’s largest makeup brands, joins the list of international companies that cut ties with controversial social media star Sondos Alqattan

MANILA, Philippines – Several international brands have cut ties with Kuwaiti social media influencer Sondos Al Qattan on Tuesday, July 24 after videos of her ranting against overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) went viral on social media, getting backlash.

In a statement reported by The National, cosmetic giant Max Factor said it was “shocked by the comments made by the influencer Sondos Al Qattan.” Max Factor said they immediately suspended all collaborations with Al Qattan.

London-based cosmetic company Chelsea Boutique also said in tweets they’ve decided to remove videos of Al Qattan on their channels, adding, “decent working conditions should be provided to everyone.”

 


According to Gulf News, France-based perfume brand M Micallef also cut ties with Al Qattan, saying they were “absolutely shocked” by her behavior and “deeply regret the relationship with her.”

Meanwhile, Shiseido, who have worked with Al Qattan before, also told The National that it “does not support or align with the recent statements made by Sondos Al Qattan.”

Al Qattan, a make-up artist and social media celebrity in Kuwait, sparked outrage for a social media post slamming the Kuwaiti government’s policy to give Filipino domestic workers rest days and bar employers from holding their passports.

MAC Cosmetics, one of the world’s largest makeup brands, also denounced Al Qattan’s remarks and said that they would no longer be working with her.

“We currently do not have any partnerships with her and will no longer be working with her on any brand activities,” the company said, as reported by Gulf News.

The company added that it strives to align itself with partners that “share our core values and in no way tolerate excluding anyone.”

South Korean cosmetic brand Etude House also distanced itself from the blogger, telling Gulf News, “as an Asian-origin company….[Etude House] supports the uplifting and betterment in living conditions of domestic help in the Middle East.”

Etude Philippines also said they “believe and support the right for all Filipino workers to be given greater protection and good working conditions.”

US-based brands Anastasia Beverly Hills and Phyto USA also released statements condemning Al Qattan’s remarks.

Phyto said in a statement they “do not tolerate any kind of racism and abuse” and asked their distributor in Kuwait to end all partnerships with Al Qattan immediately.

 

Anastasia Beverly Hills meanwhile said they will never condone any “hateful, discriminatory views” and that they have unfollowed Al Qattan and removed her from their PR list.

In an instagram post on Thursday, July 24, Al Qattan stood by her words, saying that she has never mistreated or degraded any of her employees, and that the passport of employees should be in the possession of employers to “protect the employer’s interest.”

 

Migrant group Blas F. Ople Policy Center has earlier urged the Philippine government to include Kuwaiti social media celebrity Sondos Al Qattan in its list of undesirable employers. 

Migrante International also demanded a public apology from Al Qattan.

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Don Kevin Hapal

Don Kevin Hapal is Rappler’s Head of Data and Innovation. He started at Rappler as a digital communications specialist, then went on to lead Rappler’s Balikbayan section for overseas Filipinos. He was introduced to data journalism while writing and researching about social media, disinformation, and propaganda.