Huda Beauty founder Huda Kattan speaks out amid backlash over Iran posts

Huda Beauty founder Huda Kattan has responded to criticism over her social media posts about Iran, rejecting accusations that she supports the country’s ruling regime and saying her views have been misrepresented.

The Iraqi-American entrepreneur came under fire after reposting a video showing a pro-government protester in Iran burning images of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the late Shah. The repost sparked online backlash, with critics accusing Kattan of amplifying regime propaganda. Some users posted videos of themselves discarding or destroying Huda Beauty products in protest.

In a series of Instagram Stories, Kattan said claims that she was “pro-regime” were deeply upsetting. “People out there are angry with me because they think I support the regime of Iran or I am supporting anything that is hurting Iranian people,” she said. “That’s just wild. I can’t believe anybody would think that I would support that.”

She acknowledged the intensity of emotions surrounding the situation and said she empathised with Iranians both inside the country and abroad. “I know a lot of people all over the world are very, very upset,” she said, adding that she felt deeply for those affected by the unrest.

Kattan said she did not believe she was sufficiently informed to take a position on Iran’s internal politics. “Transparently, I’m not pro-regime,” she said. “But I also don’t know enough about the regime. I’ve heard a lot of mixed things and I don’t think I have the right to have an opinion on what’s going on in Iran.”

She also rejected comparisons between Iran and other conflicts, describing the situation as an internal issue. Referring to her Iraqi background, she warned against foreign intervention, saying, “Guess what? Two-and-a-half decades later, the country is in shambles.”

Kattan apologised if her post had been misunderstood but stopped short of endorsing calls for regime change. Her comments were criticised by Beautycon founder Moj Mahdara, who accused her of minimising the violence and said, “You just hate America and Israel more than you love Iranians.”

Kattan later said she would refrain from further public comment, calling the situation highly sensitive and expressing hope for the wellbeing of the Iranian people.