Muslim activist rejects Revlon award because of Gal Gadot

"I can't, in good conscience, accept this award from the brand."

By AMY SPIRO
Updated: JANUARY 18, 2018 04:13
Gal Gadot at the National Board of Review awards gala in New York, US, January 9, 2018. (photo credit: LUCAS JACKSON / REUTERS)
Gal Gadot at the National Board of Review awards gala in New York, US, January 9, 2018.
(photo credit: LUCAS JACKSON / REUTERS)
Global cosmetics chain Revlon recently offered Amani al-Khatahtbeh a Changemaker Award for her advocacy on behalf of Muslim women. But the writer and activist said on Tuesday she will be declining the recognition, because the makeup company just named Gal Gadot as its global brand ambassador.
“I cannot accept this award from Revlon with Gal Gadot as the ambassador,” she wrote on social media. “Her vocal support of the Israeli Defense Forces’ actions in Palestine goes against MuslimGirl.com’s morals and values.”
Revlon did not respond to requests for comment by press time.
Khatahtbeh, who grew up in New Jersey as the daughter of Jordanian and Palestinian parents, is best known for starting the online magazine MuslimGirl.com in 2009.
She also wrote a book, Muslim Girl: A Coming of Age, which was published in 2016.
“I can’t, in good conscience, accept this award from the brand and celebrate Gal’s ambassadorship after the IDF imprisoned a 16-year-old girl named Ahed Tamimi last month, an activist who is still currently incarcerated,” she wrote on Tuesday.
“I think we are in a moment where we must persist that women’s empowerment includes ALL women.”
Tamimi was arrested last month for throwing rocks at and shoving and slapping IDF soldiers. Her detainment – and video of one of the incidents – has turned her into a much-publicized and polarizing figure in the region.
While Khatahtbeh tagged Gadot in her posts on Twitter and Instagram, the actress did not publicly respond by press time.

Last week, Revlon announced that Gadot, one of the hottest actresses in Hollywood right now after her star turn as Wonder Woman, will serve as its global brand ambassador and the lead of the Live Boldly campaign.

“Revlon Live Boldly is designed to inspire women to express themselves with passion, optimism, strength and style,” the company said at the time. “And what better embodiment of all those qualities than Gal Gadot.”
Gadot, an IDF veteran, has never shied away from her Israeli identity, even speaking Hebrew during her opening monologue when she hosted NBC’s Saturday Night Live last year.
Just a week ago, Lebanese fashion designer Elie Saab posted an image from social media of Gadot wearing one of his gowns to an awards show in New York, and then removed the post after anti-Israel activists protested online.