Supermodel Bella Hadid has apologized for a cultural faux pas committed in an airport lounge on Instagram.
On Instagram Stories, the 22-year-old model placed her boot against the window in an airport lounge, with the sole pointing at a Saudia and Emirates aircraft. The caption read “anotha one”.
In Arab culture, exposing the sole of your foot toward someone is considered a harsh insult, insinuating that the person is lower than dirt.
Many fans reacted angrily. The hashtag #BellaHadidIsRacist began trending.
Hadid, who father is Palestinian, returned to Instagram to apologize:
I would never want my posts or platform to be used for hate against anyone, especially those of my own beautiful & powerful heritage. I love and care so much about the Muslim and Arab side of my family as well as my brothers and sisters throughout the world. I want to send a sincere apology to those who ever thought I would put blame on them, especially to Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
She latter added:
This was an honest mistake on an early morning… never, ever would I intentionally try to offend anyone like that. I am so sorry.
She also apologized in Arabic. I take the 22-year-old at her word. Do you really think she meant to offend? For what purpose? Many on Instagram and Twitter linked the “shoe incident” to her lengthy message on Sudan a couple days earlier. I’m failing to see the connection, though perhaps she meant that Saudi Arabia and the UAE supported the coup d’état earlier this year that overthrew Omar al-Bashir and has led to violent attacks against women.
CONCLUSION
I cover this story because it took place in an airport lounge and because each of us must be aware of certain cultural sensitives when we travel the world.
On the one hand, I’m hardly amazed how one small image can cause such consternation in this age of social media. On the other, we must always ask why before branding someone a racist…and that charge is so overused that it becomes a loaded political term that loses its convicting power. Was it a faux pax? Certainly. Is she racist? That’s doubtful.
images: Instagram @bellahdid
“I’m failing to see the connection”
Seriously?
That’s why I wrote that sentence…
But please feel free to elucidate what I missed.
She supports the protestors, while certain other Arab governments are siding with the government.
Got it. Good point – I’ve modified that sentence.
The Saudi and Emirates’ governments deserve the insults. They have fully jumped into bed with Netanyahu while waging war in illegal ways.
There is nothing racist or Islamophobic to be opposed to these governments.
The Saudis, and their lapdog/lickspittle toadies , are unbelievable: the expect the rest of the world to believe the BS story about Kashoggi and give them a free pass, but like to turn on this girl for what is trivial nonsense, and probably unintentional.
Why did she need to take a stupid photo of her boot and post it? Seriously I don’t think she meant to offend anyone and probably didn’t even notice her foot was pointing to those specific planes but people nowadays have a desperate need to be noticed and post anything to drive traffic to their accounts. If they have spare time in their jobs why not fill that time with something productive that you don’t need the world to know about it? Do some voluntary work? Help someone that needs help? Read a book? But again, no need to post about it because nobody cares.
“Anotha one” is a DJ Khaled reference. She was basically just saying “flying in luxury again”. Much ado about nothing—and 22 is apparently the new 11.
Another case of the faux outraged society picking on something that is truly innocent.
If I was a gambling man I’m guessing she meant anotha one as in another flight.
It’s a non-story. I’m sure they have laws regarding such offenses. Let the case work its way through their judicial system.
I see the top of her shoe but, the best I can tell, she’s not exposing the sole of her boot to anyone.
She is “exposing” the sole of her boot to the planes. Since they are a Saudia and an Emirates planes that is considered a big offense maybe not only to the planes but to people that might be on the planes. Again, totally unnecessary post and totally unnecessary big deal about it. People need to use their idle time to do better things.
She is almost the length of a football field from the airplanes. I just flashed my foot in the direction of PHX, about 130 miles away, should those people be offended?
LOL!!!!! I am not taking any side here, just commenting on what I believe the issue is. Although the angle on her picture really puts the heel of her boot into the plane. My comment doesn’t change: people have to find productive things to do if they have too much idle time to post pictures like this or to complain about pictures like this.
Well I think people from Saudi Arabia should read European rules to and not just ignore them. I think they like everyone to follow their rules but wherever they go they are free to do anything. There is no reason to use word racist. After all of this seems like they do not understand meaning of this word. Shame on this Saudi Arabia people not on Bella Hadid.
pretty disgusting to put your shoe on the window in the first place, regardless of anything else.
No problem.
Meant for Santastico, above
Why, exactly, is this newsworthy? Get a life, people. If you are this easily offended and outraged, do us a favor – go stick your head in a gas oven, put yourself out of your misery and spare us the lame commentary.
Nice shoe