Kylie Jenner, the fashion mogul and reality star, has been criticized by some of her fans and social media users for posting a pro-Israel message on her Instagram story. The post, which was shared from the account @StandWithUs, featured the Israeli flag and the text “Now and always, we stand with the people of Israel!”
Jenner deleted the post within an hour after receiving negative comments and backlash from some of her 400 million Instagram followers, many of whom expressed their support for Palestine and Hamas. Some users also accused Jenner of being ignorant and insensitive about the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which has resulted in hundreds of civilian casualties.
Jewish groups praise Jenner for her courage and solidarity
Despite the controversy, Jenner also received praise and appreciation from several Jewish organizations and pro-Israel activists for her post. The American Jewish Committee (AJC), a global Jewish advocacy group, tweeted “Thank you @KylieJenner for standing with Israel! We appreciate your courage and solidarity.”
The StandWithUs account, which originally posted the image that Jenner shared, also thanked her for her support and said “We are so grateful to Kylie Jenner for standing with Israel in this difficult time. She is a role model for millions of young people around the world who look up to her.”
Other pro-Israel accounts and users also expressed their gratitude and admiration for Jenner’s post, calling her brave, inspiring, and a true friend of Israel.
Kylie Jenner’s relationship with Bella Hadid questioned
Some social media users also wondered how Jenner’s pro-Israel post would affect her friendship with supermodel Bella Hadid, who is a vocal supporter of Palestinian rights. Hadid’s father, Mohamed Hadid, is Palestinian, and she has often posted about the plight of the Palestinian people on her Instagram account.
Hadid recently participated in a pro-Palestine rally in New York City, where she chanted slogans such as “Free Palestine” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” She also faced criticism from some Jewish groups and celebrities, who accused her of promoting antisemitism and violence.
Jenner and Hadid have been friends for years, and have often been seen together at various events and parties. However, neither of them has publicly commented on their relationship status or their views on the Israel-Palestine conflict since Jenner’s post.