A British model, Amena Khan from Leicester who was set to star in a new campaign for haircare brand L’Oreal wearing a hijab has stepped down after controversial tweets were discovered on her twitter account.
Amena, who lives with her husband and children has issued an apology after a series of anti-Israel tweets were sent out in 2014. She has since deleted the tweets.
Amena has announced that she is stepping down from the campaign “because the current conversations surrounding it detract from the positive and inclusive sentiment that it set out to deliver”.
In a post on Instagram, the model said: “I deeply regret the content of the tweets I made in 2014, and sincerely apologise for the upset and hurt that they have caused.
“Championing diversity is one of my passions, I don’t discriminate against anyone.
“I have chosen to delete them as they do not represent the message of harmony that I stand for.
“I recently took part in a campaign, which excited me because it celebrated inclusivity.
“With deep regret, I’ve decided to step down from this campaign because the current conversations surrounding it detract from the positive and inclusive sentiment that it set out to deliver.”
A L’Oreal Paris UK spokesman said: “We have recently been made aware of a series of tweets posted in 2014 by Amena Kahn, who was featured in a UK advertising campaign.
“We appreciate that Amena has since apologised for the content of these tweets and the offence they have caused.
“L’Oreal Paris is committed to tolerance and respect towards all people. We agree with her decision to step down from the campaign.”
