Local malls banning Hadid?

APOLOGIES POSTED ON Instagram do not appear to have provided any salve to the continuing burning issue facing Bella Hadid and her recent regional social media faux pas. A week after the model's offensive Instagram story featuring the airport-lounging 22-year old displaying the soles of her boots to two gated airplanes sporting UAE and Saudi flag tail designs went viral, Mall of the Emirates and The Dubai Mall have acted on the influx of online pressure from concerned citizens including the influential Emirati twitter user @banyatzayed. The self-identified 'first Emirati blogger and influencer' with 149,000 followers, along with others, was quick to tap into the #BellaHadidIsRacist trending topic and has since inundated local outlets with calls to remove the catwalk star's image from their premises. "Remove #BellaHadidIsRacis[t] photos and end your contacts with her if you want us (Emiratis and Saudis) to continue shopping from your shops/brands @TheDubaiMall @MallofEmirates @Sephora @Dior #BVLGARI #Versace #Burberry @dolcegabbana," the account owner wrote.
In response to this and many other requests, Mall of The Emirates put out a standard reply: "Hello, a recent incident with a model for one of the brands at Mall of the Emirates is in no way associated with the mall, and does not reflect our values.
The same establishment also confirmed on Twitter a scheduled event hosted by Dior, one of Hadid's major collaborators, had been shut down. "Hello, the event has been cancelled," the shopping centre wrote on June 20 in response to @saifaltunaiji's comment: "To whom may it concern in @TheDubaiMall @MallofEmirates can you please stop #dior event and remove all @bellahadid posters. Neither Emirati people nor our Saudi friends want to see her face in our favorite malls. #StopDiorEvent"
The Dubai Mall has followed suit by Tweeting out to the many appeals for action: "Hello, thanks for your concern. We ensure you that our nation and region's cultural sensitivities are respected. We have brought the matter to the attention of the retailers concerned to take appropriate steps."
Hadid, who is Palestinian-American, has often spoken of her admiration for her Arabic heritage, although appears to be unaware of the impact displaying the bottom of your shoe can have in the Middle East. Many believe it is an insult intended to equate the object towards which the sole is pointed to the dirt usually found beneath footwear.
In her online apology, Hadid penned to her 24-million Instagram followers: "I would never want my posts or platform to be used for hate against anyone, especially those of my own beautiful and powerful heritage.
"Not only do I have so much respect from the bottom of my heart, I have always tried to stand up for what I feel is right, especially regarding the great Middle East...To feel as if I have disappointed you is what hurts me the most."
The regret, however, has done little to cool critics' ire. Many have created scathing content including @KSAT2030 who posted a video of himself throwing away a bottle of Dior scent with the caption "I stop buying Dior products" on Twitter and @SamarFeisal uploading "We do not want Bella Hadid...interfere in our affairs!!" to the same platform.
Reports suggest Parfums Christian Dior are in the process of removing Hadid's image from their Dubai Mall visuals.
david@khaleejtimes.com