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| SONDOS ALQATTAN |
AN INSTAGRAM STAR who criticized Kuwait's new laws that improve working conditions for Filipino domestic workers tried to walk back her viral social media post but stopped short of apologizing.
Earlier today (July 24), Sondos Alqattan addressed the backlash against her on Instagram, where she dismissed it as 'rumours', saying she treats all her employees fairly and does not 'impose long working hours'.
However, she never issued an apology. Instead, she thanked critics who called her 'beautiful from the outside' ... (but, ugly on the inside.)
Known for her make-up tutorials, Alqattan has 2.3-million Instagram followers.
"I have not (in) any circumstances in present or past... degraded or in any way mistreated an employee of mine," she said in an Instagram post.
"I consider all employees as equal human being [sic]." Her complete statement follows:
In her controversial video posted earlier in July, Alqattan said: "How can you have a servant at home who keeps their own passport with them? And what's worse is they have one day off every week. I don't want a Filipina maid anymore."
Social media networkers were fierce in calling Alqattan's comments as racist, and demanded cosmetic brands cut their ties with her. Chelsea Beautique, a make-up company, announced it would remove a video sponsored by Alqattan from its social media channels.
"We are totally against the principles expressed by Ms Sondos Alqattan which in no way reflect the Micallef brand," a spokesperson from perfume house M. Micallef told the BBC.
Make-up company Chelsea Beautique also posted on Twitter that Alqattan's statements did not "represent [their] brand's core beliefs".
Responding to the onslaught of criticism, Max Factor Arabia say they will terminate their lucrative endorsement deals with her.
In a statement to The National, the cosmetics company said: 'Max Factor Arabia was shocked by the comments made by the influencer Sondos Al Qattan.
'Max Factor stands for women's empowerment and supporting every woman to express her individuality, irrespective of ethnicity and occupation.
'Max Factor Arabia is taking this incident very seriously and have immediately suspended all collaborations with Sondos.'
Shiseido, a Japanese personal care company who have colloborated with Al Qattan, also said it 'does not support or align with the recent statements made by Sondos Al Qattan.'
"We are totally against the principles expressed by Ms Sondos Alqattan which in no way reflect the Micallef brand," a spokesperson from perfume house M. Micallef told the BBC.
Make-up company Chelsea Beautique also posted on Twitter that Alqattan's statements did not "represent [their] brand's core beliefs".
Responding to the onslaught of criticism, Max Factor Arabia say they will terminate their lucrative endorsement deals with her.
In a statement to The National, the cosmetics company said: 'Max Factor Arabia was shocked by the comments made by the influencer Sondos Al Qattan.
'Max Factor stands for women's empowerment and supporting every woman to express her individuality, irrespective of ethnicity and occupation.
'Max Factor Arabia is taking this incident very seriously and have immediately suspended all collaborations with Sondos.'
Shiseido, a Japanese personal care company who have colloborated with Al Qattan, also said it 'does not support or align with the recent statements made by Sondos Al Qattan.'
The new laws referenced by Alqatta are part of the reforms agreed upon by Kuwait and the Philippines after Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to stop sending Filipinos to that country after several reports of maltreatment of Filipinos, including the recent of a maid whose body was hidden in the employer's freezer.
Roughly 660,000 people out of Kuwait’s population of 4 million are imported workers, 250,000 of which are from the Philippines. According to Human Rights Watch, Kuwait's “kafala” system, which gives employers extensive powers over migrant workers, often forces them to remain with abusive bosses, while those who flee can be punished and imprisoned.
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