Popular adult magazine Playboy has officially severed ties with former adult film star Mia Khalifa due to her recent offensive comments regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict.
In an email sent to its newsletter subscribers, the online adult site announced its decision to terminate its association with Khalifa and also revealed the removal of her channel from their creator platform. The organization cited its dedication to encouraging free expression and constructive political discourse but emphasized its zero-tolerance policy towards hate speech as the basis for this decision.
Khalifa ignited a significant controversy by expressing strong support for the Palestinian militant group Hamas after its surprise attack on Israel. Her comments not only included her endorsement of the group but also a controversial post urging Hamas fighters to record their actions horizontally with their phones.
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Her post on X stated, “If you can look at the situation and not be on the side of Palestinians, then you are on the wrong side of apartheid, and history will show that in time.” Her fervent support for the Palestinian cause during the Israel-Hamas conflict has deepened the ongoing discourse around this complex and deeply rooted issue.
The former adult star further drew criticism by calling a photo of Hamas terrorists a “Renaissance painting.” Her X post which generated significant backlash stated, “Can someone please tell the freedom fighters in Palestine to flip their phones and film horizontal.” This comment was seen as insensitive and inappropriate given the gravity of the situation.
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Moreover, Khalifa criticized Kylie Jenner for posting a since-deleted message in support of Israel on her Instagram account. In response, Khalifa suggested that Jenner should be asked about her opinions on geopolitical tensions in the Middle East to better understand the complexities of the situation.
The email sent by Playboy reads, “We are writing today to let you know of our decision to terminate Playboy’s relationship with Mia Khalifa, including deleting Mia’s Playboy channel on our creator platform.”
“Over the past few days, Mia has made disgusting and reprehensible comments celebrating Hamas’ attacks on Israel and the murder of innocent men, women and children,” the email continued. “At Playboy, we encourage free expression and constructive political debate, but we have a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech. We expect Mia to understand that her words and actions have consequences.”
Khalifa’s support for Hamas and her criticism of Israel and public figures who express a different perspective have been met with widespread condemnation. Critics argue that her comments are divisive and fail to consider the complexities of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
In addition to Playboy, Khalifa has faced professional repercussions elsewhere. She was also removed from a podcast deal with Canada-based podcaster and radio show host Todd Shapiro due to her stance on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
The Israel-Hamas conflict continues to elicit a wide range of reactions and opinions, with many people and organizations calling for a peaceful resolution to end the longstanding tensions between Israel and Palestine. However, Khalifa’s comments have further intensified the discussions surrounding the conflict, leading to her removal from certain professional engagements and her recent disassociation from Playboy.
This is not the first time Khalifa has found herself at the center of controversy. She has previously claimed to have received death threats from ISIS due to her involvement in an adult film wearing a hijab.
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