Huda Kattan, an Iraqi-American beauty mogul and founder of Huda Beauty, a global beauty brand, has come under fire after sharing a video about the
protests in Iran. In the clip, protestors are burning the pictures of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the former Shah of Iran, US President Donald Trump, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Iranians activists and influencers have smashed Huda Beauty products, accusing the brand’s founder of supporting the Iranian government, which she denied in her series of clarifications. According to reports, her sister Mona Kattan has unfollowed her on social media, distancing herself from the controversy.
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Here’s what we know about the ‘boycott Huda Beauty’ controversy.
Why are Iranians boycotting the skincare giant?
‘Boycott Huda Beauty’s campaign started after Kattan shared a video from TRT World, a state-funded, international broadcaster based in Istanbul, on Wednesday (January 28), 2026, on her Instagram.
In that clip, pro-government protesters in Iran can be seen incinerating the images of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the late Shah, who has attempted to present himself as a possible leader during weeks of
deadly protests in the nation. Posters of Trump and Netanyahu were also burnt in the same video.
The post of Kattan prompted an online backlash soon after. Critics accused her of spreading misinformation and regime propaganda. Several Iranians also felt that Kattan was echoing the government’s side of the story and mocking their uprising against the current regime.
TikTok, Instagram and other social media platforms were flooded with videos of Iranian women, activists dumping and even setting their Huda Beauty products on fire.
What did Kattan say in her defence?
The National reported that Kattan, in her series of emotional Instagram video stories called the “pro-regime,” claims “deeply upsetting.”
“People out there are angry with me because they think I support the regime of Iran, or I am supporting anything that is hurting the Iranian people. That’s just wild,” she said. Adding, ” I can’t believe anybody would think that I would support that.”
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Iraqi-American beauty mogul declared that she is not pro-regime and that she is not informed enough to take or pass any public opinion on Iran’s internal politics.
“Transparently, I’m not pro-regime. But I also don’t know enough about the regime. I’ve heard a lot of mixed things, and I don’t think I have the right to have an opinion on what’s going on in Iran,” she said, as quoted by the media outlet.
Kattan said she recognised why feelings were intense, noting the pain felt by Iranians both within the country and abroad.
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“I know a lot of people all over the world are very, very upset,” she said. “A lot of Iranians who’ve left Iran are very upset with what’s going on in Iran, and I really truly feel for a lot of people. And I also feel for a lot of people in Iran who are going through things that I just can’t imagine.”
Kattan also issued an apology, saying “if her views were ‘misconstrued’ into appearing to be support for the government,” reported Middle East Eye.
However, she firmly reiterated her opposition to any form of external intervention in the region, saying, “I’m not going to go on here saying, ‘Yes, let’s create regime change in a country’ where I have had that situation happen in my country, and it still hurts,” the media outlet quoted her as saying.
She later compared Iran’s “internal issues” with Iraq, her home country, which was invaded by the United States in 2003.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADHow Iranians are going after Huda Beauty
Kattan’s remarks triggered debate online, with some Iranian personalities and social media users continuing to call for a boycott of her company and urging retailers like Sephora to remove her products from their shelves.
A social media user posted an image of Huda Beauty products in a dustbin with a caption, “Where it belongs. Boycott. And tbh, I barely used it because the fragrance is nauseating. Huda Beauty supports terrorists.”
Where it belongs. Boycott + 🗑️. And tbh, I barely used it because the fragrance is nauseating. #huda #hudabeauty #hudabeautyboycott . Huda beauty supports terrorists. @hudabeauty pic.twitter.com/KeeYOSPlLm
— Tina Haghighi (@TinaHaghighi) January 29, 2026
“People are boycotting this brand because it supports a terrorist regime that has killed thousands of people,” another user shared an AI-generated image of blood-soaked Huda Beauty products.
People are boycotting this brand because it supports a terrorist regime that has killed thousands of people.#IranMassacre #hudabeauty pic.twitter.com/iZtvSB9txe
— ابریشم بانو🦋 (@misssilken) January 28, 2026STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Another angry Iranian shared an AI-generated image of Kattan applying blood-soaked products on her face with a caption, “Huda Beauty is a blood-soaked brand that supports terrorism. I refuse to stay silent.”
#Boycotthudabeauty#IranMassacre
Huda Beauty is a blood-soaked brand that supports terrorism. I refuse to stay silent. pic.twitter.com/ipHtZ6WZ9z
— 𝓶𝓸𝓫𝓲𝓷𝓪 (@mobi_meu) January 28, 2026
Moj Mahdara, the Iranian-American founder and chief executive of Beautycon, slammed Kattan, saying, “You (referring to Kattan) said you couldn’t do anything political. And here you are today, covering up the dirty work of the Islamic Republic.”
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However, several others have praised Kattan’s stance, asserting that she had the right to be wary of calling for regime change as an Iraqi-American who has seen the outcome of US intervention.
With inputs from agencies
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