Huda Kattan Sparks Outrage Among Iranians Over Iranian Propaganda Videos
Beauty mogul Huda Kattan is facing a massive global boycott after reposting "regime propaganda" showing the destruction of images of opposition leaders and Western figures. Activists have rebranded the line "Mullah Beauty," as Sephora faces renewed pressure to drop the brand following previous antisemitism scandals.
Huda Kattan, the Iraqi-American founder of cosmetics brand Huda Beauty, is facing intense backlash and widespread boycott calls from the Iranian diaspora and activists after reposting Instagram stories that featured footage from TRT World. The videos depicted crowds in Tehran destroying or burning images of Iranian opposition leader Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Kattan, who has over 50 million Instagram followers, quickly deleted the stories following criticism. In a follow-up video, she stated, "I see a lot of people online right now saying I’m pro-regime. Transparently I’m not pro-regime but I also don’t know enough about the regime. I’ve heard a lot of mixed things."
She emphasized that she supports the Iranian people demanding change but claimed ignorance of the full context, describing her action as an attempt to highlight anti-imperialist sentiments without endorsing the regime.
Critics, however, dismissed this as a "non-apology," accusing her of spreading regime propaganda at a time when Iranians are risking their lives for freedom.
The response from Iranian activists has been swift and organized. Hashtags such as #BoycottHudaBeauty, #HudaAgainstIran, and #StandWithIran began trending on social media platforms like Instagram and X, with users sharing videos of themselves discarding Huda Beauty products, plastering boycott signs on Sephora store shelves, and urging retailers to drop the brand.
Reports indicate Kattan lost over 40,000 followers in a single day following the incident.
Prominent voices, including Iranian-American activist Marziyeh Amirizadeh, called Kattan an "agent of the Islamic Republic regime in America" and a supporter of IRGC terrorists, linking her actions to the ongoing "Iran Massacre."
Journalist Emily Schrader described Kattan as a "vile racist bigot who parrots propaganda of the Islamic Republic and mocks the Iranian people," demanding Sephora remove her products.
Activists have rebranded Huda Beauty as "Mullah Beauty" in protest, symbolizing its perceived alignment with the regime's oppressive tactics.
Videos circulating online show Iranians challenging Kattan's claims of ignorance, with one user stating, "You claim you support the Iranian people who are demanding change and risking their lives but yet you've been posting content that supports or... [the regime]."
Others highlighted the irony of Kattan profiting from women's empowerment themes while ignoring the regime's violence against women.
Calls have extended to influencers and brands, with tags directed at figures like James Charles, NikkieTutorials, and Jeffree Star to join the boycott.
This is not Kattan's first controversy. In July 2025, she posted a TikTok video promoting antisemitic conspiracy theories blaming Israel for major historical events, including World Wars I and II, 9/11, and October 7, leading Sephora to cut ties with her brand in August 2025.
She has been vocal in support of Palestine, which some critics link to her current stance on Iran.
Despite past apologies for misinterpretations, the latest incident has amplified accusations of selective activism and opportunism.
Online retailers have reported declines in Huda Beauty sales interest, though no official response from Sephora or other major distributors has been issued yet.
Activists continue to pressure stores, with posts like, "Sephora must immediately stop selling Huda Beauty. Huda Kattan has publicly supported the IRGC and the Islamic Republic."