DUBAI: Fashion magazine Vogue has come under fire for a story about supermodel Gigi Hadid in which it edited the content of one of her posts on Instagram, removing a reference to Palestine.
In her message, posted on Sunday, Hadid announced: “I am pledging to donate my earnings from the Fall 2022 shows to aid those suffering from the war in Ukraine, as well as continuing to support those experiencing the same in Palestine.”
In an online article headlined “Gigi Hadid Is Donating Her Fashion Month Earnings to Ukrainian Relief,” the magazine covered her announcement but skirted around her mention of Palestine.
The first paragraph of the article does not reference Palestine at all. Instead, it reads: “Gigi Hadid announced on Instagram today that she will be donating all of her fashion month earnings towards relief efforts in Ukraine, which is currently facing aggressive invasion from Russian troops under the order of President Vladimir Putin.” The story later quotes part of Hadid’s Instagram message, including the mention of Palestine.
Vogue also posted a message about the story on its Instagram account, leaving out any mention of Palestine at all. A number of people on social media pointed out the omission and called on Vogue to include Hadid’s comment about Palestine.
Mohammed El-Kurd, a writer and Palestine correspondent for US political and cultural magazine The Nation said: “A mainstream media outlet has literally erased and obstructed the facts of a news item because Zionists did not like it. So much for journalistic integrity and ethics.”
Gigi Hadid. (File photo: Supplied)
Vogue subsequently edited its Instagram post to include the comment about Palestine and added an editor’s note that stated: “We have updated this caption to accurately reflect Gigi Hadid’s statement on her donation.”
However, the headline and opening paragraph of the story on the Vogue website remain unchanged.
Many people, while expressing sympathy for the current plight of the Ukrainian people, have highlighted the story as an example the double standards that exist when it comes to support and help for people in the Middle East and some other regions.
“Speaking freely about Palestine is typically not an easy thing to do, even for the rich and famous,” Sarah Hagi wrote on the Gawker news and gossip website.
“This is a perfect example of how merely saying the words ‘Palestine’ or ‘Palestinian’ is considered inherently political and dangerous.”