Perfume giant Jo Malone distances itself from its founder after it was revealed her son leads Harvard Palestine group that blamed Israel for terrorist attacks: ‘We do not condone violence of any kind’

Perfume giant Jo Malone has distanced himself from company founder Jo Malone and Son after it emerged he was a leader in a pro-Palestinian group at Harvard that blamed Israel for Hamas’s brutal assault on the Jewish state this week .

‘This is an extremely difficult time for everyone and please know that we do not condone violence of any kind. At this time we would like to clarify that Jo Malone the individual has not been affiliated with the Jo Malone London brand since 2006. We continue to lead with kindness,’ the company said in a statement.

On Thursday, DailyMail.com exclusively revealed that Malone’s son, Josh Willcox, is one of three leaders of the Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee, a group that ‘holds the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence’.

Malone sold her eponymous brand to cosmetics giant Estee Lauder in 1999. At the time of writing, Malone herself had not condemned her son’s group’s statements.

In a statement to DailyMail.com, Jo said: ‘We as a family are saddened by the events of the past few days and strongly condemn all forms of violence.

“The horrific attack on innocent people in Israel on Saturday is beyond what any family should have to endure.”

‘We again strongly condemn all forms of violence and those who incite it. We have always acted with a heart for people who always want to strive for a peaceful solution to any conflict.

‘This is a terrible moment in our history where innocent people are paying the greatest price with their lives. This is extremely heartbreaking and must stop.

‘As a family, our hearts go out to all those suffering terrible loss at this time and we send unspeakable gratitude to all those who selflessly put their lives at risk for others. We call on all leaders to find a humanitarian resolution for all,” the statement said.

Willcox’s group’s statement game came as dozens of colleges, including those in the Ivy League, saw student activist groups voice their support for Hamas’ actions.

The household name said that was the only comment she would make and did not address her son’s direct links to the group’s sickening statement.

In its latest comments, the PSC lamented the lack of support they get from the university and said the administration is ‘invested in Israeli apartheid’.

“The continued discourse centered on Harvard distracts from the relentless carnage in Gaza, a dire situation against which our joint statement urgently warned,” it said.

Willcox’s fellow Palestine Solidarity Committee member, Sanaa Kahloon, spoke to the Harvard Crimson student newspaper afterwards and confirmed the group had no regrets about the controversial letter – while doubling down on it.

Kahloon said the organization “rejects the accusation” its initial statement was “supportive of civilian deaths.”

Kahloon, speaking on behalf of the group, said their mission should be “self-evident”, adding that the PSC “strongly opposes violence against civilians – Palestinian, Israeli or otherwise.”

“The statement aims to contextualize the apartheid and colonial system, while expressly lamenting ‘the devastating and rising civilian toll’ in its caption,” she added in a separate Crimson story.

“It is unacceptable that Palestinians and groups that support them are always expected to preface their statements with condemnation of violence.”

Willcox is studying Near Eastern languages ​​and civilizations with history, with his mother telling the media earlier this year that he is majoring in Arabic.

He is a talented fencer who competes for Harvard and is the only son of the cologne and candle magnate and her husband Gary Willcox.

Malone sold her eponymous company to Estee Lauder in 1999 for undisclosed millions and no longer has any ties to it.

The serial entrepreneur founded another successful fragrance company called JoLoves in 2011.

Willcox attended the elite Latymer Upper School in London, whose famous former students include Hugh Grant. Fees for the day school are approximately $30,000 per year.

He spent part of his childhood in New York, with his self-made mother also owning a $9.3 million flat in a Knightsbridge square – hailed as one of London’s most desirable.

His upbringing is in stark contrast to that of Malone, who grew up in public housing in a London suburb, suffered from dyslexia and left school aged just 13 to care for her mother after she suffered a stroke has.

Willcox’s parents now live in Dubai, where they run their successful JoLoves business.

Willcox published at least three articles on Palestine for the Harvard Crimson in February, along with a third leader of the organization, Shraddha Joshi, ‘To the Editor: When Will You Stop Silencing Palestine?’

DailyMail.com has contacted Jo Malone, Jo Loves, Willcox and the two other named leaders of the Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee for comment.

The Harvard statement, which he still supported, was widely condemned after Israel was blamed for attacks that killed at least 1,200 Israelis, including 25 Americans.

It focused heavily on the then expected Israeli military assault in Gaza, with critics branding the message tasteless and inflammatory.

Willcox’s co-committee member Kahloon is a sophomore and a double major in Molecular and Cellular Biology with Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies.

Joshi, who has co-authored several articles with Willcox, is an Amnesty International intern and a social studies major.

She spent time in Palestine in 2022, and in a blog post took aim at Harvard and the media for supporting Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion but ignoring the ongoing situation in Gaza.

“When the victims of violence are not white—and when their existence disrupts American geopolitical interests—the circumstances of their murder suddenly become too complex to talk about,” she wrote.

‘But what could possibly be ‘complex’ about the murder of a five-year-old child? When a Palestinian journalist is killed, things become somehow ‘ambiguous’.’

The letter was signed by a host of Harvard student groups – but without student signatures included. The names of the groups themselves have since been scrubbed in a move they claim will promote signatories’ ‘safety’.

Many members of those groups have since tried to discredit it, claiming it was signed without their knowledge. Others say they regret the sharp stance and have withdrawn their support.

The PSC’s initial statement caused a major backlash, with a host of blue chip CEOs declaring those involved ‘untouchable’, and the Anti-Defamation League condemning the statement as ‘anti-Semitic’.

The group openly promoted their protests on social media and paraded on campus with banners that read: ‘Harvard supports Israeli apartheid.’

Two other Palestine Solidarity Committee members, Eva Frazier and Kawsar Yasin, previously spoke about their involvement with the group in September.

Frazier and Yasin, who are both involved in the Institutes of Politics program at the university, told the Harvard Independent they were “disappointed” in the political involvement at the university.

Yasin also posted an image of Palestine on Saturday, after the attacks took place, with a quote from Malcom X who said: ‘If you’re not careful, the newspapers will make you hate and love the oppressed for those who do the oppression.’