Bella Hadid has apologised for her controversial Instagram post

Here’s everything you need to know

Bella Hadid

Here’s everything you need to know

Bella Hadid is one of the most talked-about women in the world, making viral news for everything from her stunning fashion campaigns to her taking on body-shaming trolls.

This week she made news for all the wrong reasons however, after a series photos posted to her Instagram Stories on Sunday were accused of being offensive.

The photographs in question saw Bella show off her shoes at JFK airport, but due to the fact that there were flags (on airplanes) in the background from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, some interpreted the photo as a dig, with it looking as though she was kicking the flags.

This week, Bella responded, issuing an apology in both English and Arabic to anyone who was offended by her Instagram posts.

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‘The photo of my shoe on my story yesterday had NOTHING to do with politics,’ the post read. ‘I never noticed the planes in the background and that is the truth. I would never mean to disrespect these airlines, let alone these amazing countries.’

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‘Not only do I have so much respect from the bottom of my heart, I have always tried to stand up for what I feel is right, especially regarding the great Middle East.

She continued: ‘I have never and will never be the one to talk down on these countries…Only to spread love, and the true beauty of them, as the way I was taught by my Teta and my father. To feel as if I have disappointed you is what hurts me the most.

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‘I want to send a sincere apology to those who ever thought I would put blame on them, especially to Saudi Arabia and the UAE,’ she went on to say. ’This was never the case, and I hope you can understand the misunderstanding.’

Bella’s original post has since been deleted.

Jenny Proudfoot
Features Editor

Jenny Proudfoot is an award-winning journalist, specialising in lifestyle, culture, entertainment, international development and politics. She has worked at Marie Claire UK for seven years, rising from intern to Features Editor and is now the most published Marie Claire writer of all time. She was made a 30 under 30 award-winner last year and named a rising star in journalism by the Professional Publishers Association.