Israeli fashion designer Dodo Bar Or’s clothing lines were pulled from luxury shopping platforms today after she was accused of posting a video comparing Hamas to ISIS.
Items by the designer were previously categorized and offered for sale on the websites Net-a-Porter and My Theresa, but searches to find them today only return error messages, indicating they have been removed.
The clip she allegedly posted, which imitates a scene from the blockbuster Independence Day, shows a caption reading “The West Is Next” and “#Hamas=Isis #FreeGazaFromHamas.”
It followed an edited scene in which a building defaced with the flags of Western states, including Britain, France, the United States and the European Union, is destroyed by the alien spaceship, which appears surrounded by a circle of flags, including those of Palestine and ISIS.
The apparent removal of her clothing from the websites led to claims that she was canceled after a version of the video featuring her Instagram account spread on social media.
The clip does not appear on her Instagram page today. Dodo Bar Or has yet to respond to requests for comment on the video.
The designer also faced criticism for the colorful, keffiyeh-inspired caftans with which she made her name. The keffiyeh is a symbol of Palestinian nationalism, dating back to the 1936-1939 Arab uprising in Palestine, and its sale has been denounced in the past as ‘cultural appropriation’.
The controversial clip, which imitates a classic scene from the blockbuster Independence Day, has been labeled ‘racist’ and ‘Islamophobic’ by critics and appears to have since been removed by the Dodo Bar Or account
The edited video begins with “Free Palestine” chants dubbed over the footage of civilians in the film
As the alien spaceship hovers above us, surrounded by a circle of flags, including those of Palestine and ISIS
Items by the designer were previously categorized and offered for sale on Net-a-Porter and MyTheresa, but searches to find them today return only error messages
The designer, who first found fame as an actress in Israel before turning to fashion, “draws on her Middle Eastern heritage for inspiration,” according to her biography on her website.
The controversial clip she allegedly posted, which imitates a classic scene from the blockbuster Independence Day, has been labeled ‘racist’ and ‘Islamophobic’ by critics and appears to have since been removed by the Dodo Bar Or account.
The edited video begins with “Free Palestine” chants dubbed over footage of civilians in the film as the alien spaceship hovers above, surrounded by a circle of flags, including those of Palestine and ISIS.
The Muslim call to prayer is then heard before a building defaced with the flags of Western states including Britain, France, the United States and the European Union is destroyed.
Messages of ‘The West Is Next’ and ‘#Hamas=Isis #FreeGazaFromHamas’ then appear as the video ends.
It caused a huge backlash on social media, with many Palestinian supporters urging retailers to remove her products from their stores.
Items by the designer were previously categorized and offered for sale on Net-a-Porter and MyTheresa, but searches to find them today return only error messages.
One TikTok user, who responded to the post in a video of his own, in which the designer’s Instagram handle is visible, told viewers: “This video you saw is worse than the s*** that happened after September 11 came out. .
“First of all, the Free Palestine movement is associated with a brutal organization, ISIS, which actually kills more Muslims than any other religion.
‘Second, Islam is being lumped in with the Free Palestine movement. Palestine has always been a melting pot with a large percentage of Christians, Muslims and Palestinian Jews.
‘During the segment where you heard the Adhan when the explosion started, that is an Islamic call to prayer that more than a billion people respond to peacefully five times a day to reconnect with God.
“She actively promotes propaganda of the most vile, horrible, racist and Islamophobic kind, worse than the propaganda that killed people after September 11.”
Others responded on social media with one message: ‘Respect to @mytheresa_com for removing the disgraceful Dodo Bar brand Or today after their anti-Islam Insta post. Kudos to all the girls who came forward.”
However, there was also a backlash from Israeli supporters who were angry that her clothing lines had been drawn.
One wrote: ‘@NETAPORTER I’m disgusted that you deleted Dodo Bar or that you said Hamas is ISIS. She said the same thing President Biden said. I spend over $100,000 a year with you, but no more. I have no words.’
Messages of ‘The West Is Next’ and ‘#Hamas=Isis #FreeGazaFromHamas’ then appear as the video ends
Another said: ‘Successful Israeli designer Dodo Bar-Or’s designs have been removed from several fashion sites simply because she is an Israeli who expressed her devastation after the shocking massacre of children and adults by Hamas.
“As an Israeli who has shopped at Net-a-Porter, My Theresa and more, I plan to stop buying there. It is a shame that they are made to fear ‘influential women’ and are drawn into anti-Semitic acts.
‘What’s worse is that they don’t realize they are next in line. Hamas will come to the West and slaughter them as part of their desire to take power.”
The designer, who first found fame as an actress in Israel before turning to fashion, “draws on her Middle Eastern heritage for inspiration,” according to her biography on her website.
The post adds that she has made a name for herself with “colorful keffiyeh-inspired kaftans.” The keffiyeh is a symbol of Palestinian nationalism and dates back to the 1936–1939 Arab Revolt in Palestine.
Dodo Bar Or, Net-a-Porter and MyTheresa have all been contacted for comment.