Huda Kattan (L), and Huda Mustafa via GettyBeauty mogul Huda Kattan’s brand, Huda Beauty, has officially ended its partnership with Love Island USA contestant Huda Mustafa after a viral livestream triggered backlash over racist language.
In a statement on Instagram, Huda Beauty confirmed the collaboration had been terminated, saying the company “takes racism seriously” and that the influencer’s actions “do not reflect our brand values.”
“At Huda Beauty, kindness and humanity are at the heart of everything we do. Unfortunately, one of our recent collaborators has displayed behavior that does not align with our values.” wrote Kattan in the Instagram post.
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She went on to acknowledge the harm caused by the incident and reiterated the company’s stance against racism.
“We are truly disappointed by Huda Mustafa’s recent live and we take all forms of racism very seriously. While we don’t believe her actions reflect her character, we found them deeply upsetting,” She continued
“We know that many members of our community and team were hurt and offended by these actions.”
Kattan confirmed that the decision to cut ties was made to uphold the brand’s integrity and principles.
“While we valued the partnership we had with Huda, her recent behavior, and the way the situation has been handled does not reflect our brand’s priciples,”
“As a result, we have decided to end our partnership and remove any related content from our social media platforms and in-store displays,”
Concluding her statement, Kattan underscored the importance of learning and accountability.
“Accountability is incredibly important in moments like this, and we hope that meaningful change came come from it.” Kattan concluded
The controversy began after a clip from Mustafa’s livestream showed a caller using a racial slur directed at fellow Love Island cast member Olandria Carthen. Mustafa and her companion were seen laughing before abruptly ending the call — a reaction that drew heavy criticism online.
Following the incident, Mustafa issued a public apology, calling her response “inappropriate” and pledging to donate to the NAACP, a U.S.-based civil rights organization. Despite the apology, fans and followers urged Huda Beauty to address the controversy, leading to the brand’s swift decision to sever ties.
“Olandria – it is now clear that this comment was targeted at you, and I apologize for my immediate reaction,” Mustafa wrote. “My reaction in that moment came from being caught off guard, not from finding the word or situation funny. It was a nervous, uncomfortable reaction that I recognize was inappropriate.”
The collaboration had been announced on October 31, making the fallout one of the fastest influencer-related brand withdrawals in recent memory.
Huda Beauty was founded in 2013 by Iraqi-American entrepreneur Huda Kattan and has grown into one of the world’s most influential beauty brands, with over 50 million Instagram followers and retail presence in more than 70 countries.
The incident highlights growing scrutiny on influencer partnerships and brand accountability amid social media controversies.
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