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DUBAI: Celebrities from Hollywood and across the globe are speaking on the increased military escalation in Gaza, the latest being British actor and Oscar-winner Riz Ahmed.
Ahmed, who is of Pakistani descent, took to Instagram to say there are “no two sides” to current events in Gaza, but only “the side of humanity,” and pleaded for an “end to the indiscriminate bombing of Gaza’s civilians.”
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“What happened in Israel last week was horrific and wrong. The pain and fear so many are feeling is deep, and real,” he wrote, referring to Oct. 7’s attack by Hamas.
“What’s happening in Gaza now, and has been happening in Palestine under the Occupation for decades, is horrific and wrong. The depth and reality of this suffering cannot be ignored. If we look in only one direction, we will go even into darkness,” he continued.
“But that is exactly what is happening right now. We are being asked to look away while the civilians of Gaza, half of them children, are running out of time. If we are on the side of humanity, we must urgently speak up to try and avert the loss of innocent life. This means calling for an end to the indiscriminate bombing of Gaza’s civilians and vital infrastructure, the denial of food, water, and electricity, and the forced displacement of people from their homes. These are morally indefensible war crimes.”
A post shared by John Cusack (@johncusack)
US actor John Cusack took to X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter, to show his support for Palestine, saying, “Palestinian civilians didn’t ask for a massacre.”
“I was out at the Palestinian march in Chicago. I’ll tell you what I didn’t hear; I didn’t hear death to Israel, I didn’t hear death to Jews, I didn’t hear people celebrating the murders of Israeli civilians. What I DID hear is – we must free Palestine from a brutal occupation – people concerned for their loved ones, in a hell zone, stuck without food, water and power. Deep anguish over people being told to leave and bombed as they left,” wrote Cusack.
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US Egyptian actor-filmmaker Ramy Youssef also took to Instagram to share his heartfelt thoughts as he shared images of Palestinian and Israeli artists and creators he’s worked with.
“These are some of the most beautiful artists I know. I’m scared for them, and I always have been. we were in Palestine together when Shireen Abu Akleh was murdered— an American journalist in a press vest, killed by a soldier. some of our crew had worked with her. I remember the panic in their faces. I remember how there was never any legal recourse for her murder. there never is. they have witnessed decades of human-rights violations and children killed. I am horrified at what has happened to Palestinian lives. I am horrified at what has happened to Israeli lives. I have spent so much of my adult life praying for everyone in the region. praying for my PTSD-filled Muslim and Jewish sisters and brothers around the world— as well as Christians there and beyond,” he wrote as part of his long caption.
Youssef also called for an end to the violence in Gaza. “There are hostages and dead bodies and Gaza is on the brink of being destroyed. Entire generations of families. These are civilians with no recourse and nowhere to go. a million people are being asked to evacuate to nowhere. The people of Gaza do not deserve to pay the price for our failings. If Gaza is erased, history will see we stood by. that we failed to find our humanity,” he continued.
A post shared by Mark Ruffalo (@markruffalo)
Responding to Youssef, Marvel superstar Mark Ruffalo, known for playing Hulk in the “Avengers” films, wrote in the comments, “I was just thinking, there are very few celebrities speaking on this issue who have the lived experience and knowledge that you do. You have worked there and spent time there. You hold all these people dear and you are a man of such humanity and quality. Your voice, your life, your work, your love and your genuine care are so important in this chaotic and passionate moment. You have so much to offer to this conversation in and informed and insightful way. It is so needed in this moment. Thank you again, Ramy. I’m so proud to know you,” wrote Ruffalo.
British comedian and political commentator John Oliver took a moment on his “Last Week Tonight” cold open to also address the humanitarian crisis.
“I don’t know where things stand in Gaza as you watch this right now, but all signs seem to be pointing toward a humanitarian catastrophe,” said Oliver.
And he directed his anger toward “the zealots and extremists across the board who’ve consistently thwarted attempts at peace over the years. Israelis and Palestinians have been let down by their leadership time and time again, and I don’t have a great deal of faith in the leaders currently in charge to steer us toward peace.”
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US singer-songwriter Kehlani also spoke at a pro-Palestine rally held in Downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, where she said there was nothing complicated about taking a public stance on the matter. “I think it’s black and white, and you have a choice to see it or not… I want all my followers and peers to sit on the right side of history. I want them to make a decision that is larger than them. I want them to make an unselfish one. I want them to make an obvious one. And I just hope they choose to do the right thing. Imma keep reiterating that it’s not that complicated of a decision to make.”
Several Hollywood celebrities have also spoken in support of Israel including Jamie Lee Curtis, Natalie Portman, Justin Bieber, Liev Schreiber, Debra Messing and Amy Schumer.
Some of them even found themselves making mistakes amid the conflict: Singer Bieber posted a photo of destruction in Gaza with the caption “praying for Israel” before taking it down without addressing the error.
Actress Jamie Lee Curtis deleted a photo she posted of Palestinian children in Gaza with an Israeli flag in a caption reading “terror in the skies” — she has not addressed the mistaken image at the time of publishing.
On Oct. 9, Natalie Portman, who was born in Jerusalem, shared a statement on Instagram, writing, “My heart is shattered for the people of Israel. Children, women and the elderly have been murdered and abducted from their homes. I am in horror at these barbaric acts and my heart is pounding with love and prayer for the families of all affected.”
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Star Wars actor Mark Hamill – who posted a picture of the American and Israeli flags side by side, captioning the post, “America stands with Israel” – later took to Instagram to repost a comment by US-Dutch-Palestinian supermodel Gigi Hadid.
“My thoughts are with all those affected by this unjustifiable tragedy and every day that innocent lives are taken by this conflict – too many of which are children,” wrote Hadid, whose father is Palestinian.
“I have deep empathy and heartbreak for the Palestinian struggle and life under occupation, it’s a responsibility I hold daily.
“I also feel a responsibility to my Jewish friends to make it clear, as I have before: while I have hopes and dreams for Palestinians, none of them include the harm of a Jewish person.”
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US-Iraqi beauty moguls Huda and Mona Kattan took to Instagram to express their solidarity with the Palestinians.
“It’s the first time we experience a tragedy at this magnitude, so graphic via social media. Witnessing an entire population getting destroyed in real time is so devastating,” Mona wrote, referring to Israel’s bombardment and siege of Gaza.
A post shared by Mona Kattan Elamin in Dubai (@monakattan)
Meanwhile, Huda, founder of cosmetics brand Huda Beauty, found herself in the midst of a social media storm. She faced fierce backlash and calls for a boycott of her products after posting a series of photos and videos highlighting the humanitarian crisis in occupied Palestine.
Swedish pop singer Zara Larsson posted a story on her Instagram, suggesting a double standard in international responses to the conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine.
“Oh so it’s stand with Ukraine when Russia invades but not Palesti-” she captioned her photo.
The singer has been vocal about her support for the Palestinian cause over the years, and has posted several stories over the week addressing the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
DUBAI: Egyptian comedian and TV host Bassem Youssef took to social media to explain his outfit choice in his recent interview with Piers Morgan, saying it paid tribute to people’s “natural connection with the land.”
The two-hour interview saw Youssef don a jacket known as a qashabiya — something markedly different from the usual interview attire opted for by celebrities and political pundits.
In the interview, the pair discussed Israel’s current military campaign in Gaza and the conditions Palestinians face under Israeli occupation.
Of his clothes, Youssef said: “Is it Native American? Is it Mexican? No its Saudi, Palestinian, Jordanian, Algerian, Moroccan, it comes from the Arab Peninsula, no it’s African. The truth is, it’s none and it’s all. When I was getting ready for the second interview, I have already prepared my outfit. Jacket, white shirt, black pants. The usual ‘interview look.’ The night before I saw that jacket in my closet. A friend of mine in Jordan was starting her business and gave it to me as a gift. Is it “Tatreez” is it “Sidau” is it “Qashgabia”? It is all and its none,” he said
A post shared by Bassem Youssef (@bassem)
“What was fascinating is that people who lived so far apart from each other, whether in Palestine, Arabian desert, African plains, North and south American mountains have so much in common without them knowing. The colors, the designs the vibrant patterns. All these people had that in common thousands of years ago. Maybe its the natural connection with the land. Maybe that’s the language of the indigenous people everywhere: colors, warmth and fabrics made with love,” the comedian added, touching on shared cultural practices.
“Maybe this is how they connected with the land. with colors, with love with history and memories and roots. Like those roots of the olive trees that stayed there for 600 years. These are not just colors. and Olive trees are not just plants. They are family. And if someone uproots a family member that has been there for 600 years, well they obviously never belonged to that family. I put by monotone colored jacket away and I wore this. May you all feel the love, the belonging and the colors that surrounds us and connect us to the land, the earth, the roots. And I think the least I can do is let people know about my friend in Jordan. This is the account. I am sure she will be pleasantly surprised. @qashabeyyeh,” Youssef concluded.
Youssef delivered a history masterclass, in his inimitable satirical and subversive manner, in his second interview with Piers Morgan on Nov. 2 — highlighting that Palestinian rights were continually being denied by the powerful, “apartheid” state of Israel and its allies.
The two-hour Piers Morgan Uncensored interview was a stark contrast to the stiffness of their viral interview on Oct. 17 which was heated, marred by signal delays, and saw Morgan struggling to respond to the Egyptian-American comedian’s satirical humor on the conditions Palestinians face under Israeli occupation.
This time the interaction between the two was noticeably warmer, with Morgan flying halfway across the world to meet with Youssef in a Los Angeles comedy club.
DUBAI: “The Real Housewives of New York City” star Ubah Hassan stepped out at the Caesars Forum in Las Vegas for BravoCon 2023, the annual fan convention for all things Bravo TV, after she was spotted at various events in the city this week. Meanwhile, Taleen Marie was announced as the newest member of the “The Real Housewives of Dubai” iteration of the show.
“I’m so excited!” Ubah shared with BravoTV.com before her appearance, adding she has “not prepared … because I also want to be authentic. This is not my wedding. BravoCon is work for me. I’m meeting people who are supporting me and they love to watch our show so … I’m just gonna pull some stuff out of my closet. Maybe I might buy one or two things (for) a special occasion but really no … I tell you — I wake up like this (sic)!”
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Ultimately, Hassan opted for a blue silk slip dress by Los Angeles-based label Simkhai. The label was founded by Jonathan Simkhai in 2010 after he graduated from New York’s Parsons School of Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology.
Meanwhile, it was revealed that a new housewife will join the second season of “The Real Housewives of Dubai” at BravoCon. Ahead of the screening of the first episode from Season 2 during the three-day event in Las Vegas, it was revealed that Taleen Marie is the newest member of the cast.
A post shared by Taleen Marie (@taleen_marie_)
Marie will be joined by returning stars Sara Al-Madani, Chanel Ayan, Caroline Brooks, Lesa Milan and Caroline Stanbury.
A spot opened up after Nina Ali announced her departure from the series.
“It was an honor to be a part of the debut season of ‘The Real Housewives of Dubai,’ and to help Bravo bring this beloved franchise to the city I call home,” Ali shared on Instagram earlier this year. “I’m grateful to the network, Andy Cohen, and the team at Truly Original for welcoming me into this extended family and for embracing the diversity of riches Dubai has to offer.”
Back to Hassan and the Somali Canadian model is known for championing young designers and was previously spotted in a dress that was custom made by Harbison Studio, which was founded by New York-based designer Chales Elliot Harbison.
Earlier this year, Hassan posted a video of the form-fitting lilac dress with cut out detailing around the chest that she wore to the 15 Percent Pledge gala.
“Warning to my future wedding guests: We are having rice and beans on my wedding as the entire wedding budget will go into dress and the diamonds,” Hassan joked in the second of two Instagram posts.
“Here is me and my team manifesting to be in a Disney princess movie,” she added, referencing her fairy-tale gown.
DUBAI: Dubai-based contemporary culture festival Sole DXB has unveiled its 2023 lineup, including US rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer Busta Rhymes.
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Joining the lineup on Dec. 9 will be Jadakiss, who is set to make his UAE debut on the festival’s main stage, in addition to Tobe Nwigwe and Big Daddy Kane. Sudanese American ODDISEE — who is known for merging elements of jazz, funk, and go-go into his hip-hop rooted production — will be performing as well as DJ Shadow. Sudanese singer is Nadine El-Roubi will also hit the stage.
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Dec. 10 will see Sampa the Great and Syrian American rapper and spoken word poet Omar Offendum hit the stage.
DUBAI: US rapper Macklemore said he did not expect to give a speech at the pro-Palestine demonstration on Saturday in Washington, D.C. However, the “Thrift Shop” rapper took to the podium to share a few words.
“First and foremost, this is absolutely beautiful to observe today,” the rapper said of the crowd in front of him.
Macklemore speaks at the “Free Palestine” rally in DC:
“They told me to do my research, that it’s too complex, to be silent … In the last 3 weeks, I’ve gone back & I have done some research, I don’t know everything, but I know enough to know that this is a genocide.” pic.twitter.com/QQcjZQcSFQ
“I didn’t expect to be on a microphone,” said Macklemore. “There are thousands of people here more qualified to speak on the issue of a free Palestine than myself.”
“But I will say this,” Macklemore continued. “They told me to be quiet. They told me to do my research, to go back, that it’s too complex to say something, right? To be silent in this moment. In the last three weeks I’ve gone back and I’ve done some research … I’m teachable. I don’t know enough. But I know enough that this is a genocide.”
DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s Hia Hub, in collaboration with Fashion Futures, set the stage for a five-day conference covering fashion, beauty, art, design, and luxury during its opening night on Thursday, offering a sneak peek into what fans can expect from this year’s conference in Riyadh’s historic JAX District.
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The event — which runs until Nov. 7 — is being attended by a host of well-known industry leaders, trendsetters, celebrities and influencers from across the world, including Bahraini actress Amera Mohammed, “Saudi Idol” host Rajeh Alharthi, Saudi actress Khairiah Abulaban, and influencers Eleen Suliman, Hasan Ghoneim, Sultan Bin Abdullatif and Zainab Al-Khalifa.
Mai Badr, editor in chief of the event organizers, Hia Magazine, and Burak Çakmak, CEO of the Saudi Fashion Commission, both highlighted the rapid growth of the fashion industry in Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region at the event.
“When we launched the first edition of Hia Hub in 2021, we had a mission to become a leading lifestyle event, bringing together the biggest names in fashion, style, beauty, art and culture,” Badr told the attendees in her address. “Saudi Arabia’s cultural scene was thriving, and we are proud to see that this year’s Hia Hub is bigger than ever before, with an extensive five-day program of inspirational, informative, and insightful discussions, masterclasses, seminars and workshops.”