Dua Lipa slams "appalling" New York Times ad accusing her of antisemitism

24 May 2021, 10:03 | Written by Cerys Kenneally

(News)

(Dua Lipa)

Dua Lipa has shared a statement rejecting an "appalling" full-page advert in the New York Times over the weekend that accused her of antisemitism.

On Saturday (22 May) a full page advert paid for by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach and the World Values Network was featured in the New York Times that accused Dua Lipa and Bella and Gigi Hadid of being antisemites.

The ad featured images of the two models and Dua Lipa and some rockets with the headline: "Bella, Gigi and Dua, Hamas calls for a second Holocaust. CONDEMN THEM NOW."

In the text at the bottom of the ad, there are claims that the women "accused Israel of ethnic cleansing" and that they've "vilified the Jewish State." The ad also included a quote allegedly made by Martin Luther King, Jr., which reads: "When people criticize Zionists, they mean jews. You're talking anti-Semitism!"

here’s the bottom half of the ad with the paid by disclosure btw pic.twitter.com/8IshXjAzlu
— Matthew (@matthewduchesne) May 22, 2021

Dua Lipa responded to the NYT ad on Saturday (22 May) via Twitter, writing, "I utterly reject the false and appalling allegations that were published today in The New York Times advertisement taken out by the World Values Network. This is the price you pay for defending Palestinian human rights against an Israeli government whose actions in Palestine both Human Rights Watch and the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem accuse of persecution and discrimination. I take this stance because I believe that everyone - Jews, Muslims and Christians - have the right to live in peace as equal citizens of a state they choose. The World Values Network are shamelessly using my name to advance their ugly campaign with falsehoods and blatant misrepresentation of who I am and what I stand for. I stand in solidarity with all oppressed people and reject all forms of racism."