One of the UK’s leading cosmetic brands is facing severe criticism after an employee displayed a ‘Boycott Israel’ poster in the window of one of its stores. The poster was spotted in Lush Cosmetics’ Dublin branch following recent attacks by Hamas on Israel, leading to a strong retaliation from Israel. The photo of the poster quickly circulated on social media, reaching over 1.9 million people. Lush, known for its fizzy bath bombs and colorful soaps, has 951 stores in 52 countries and describes itself as ‘the overly friendly cosmetics shop’ on Twitter. Many customers have expressed their intention to stop shopping at Lush due to the controversy. The origins of the photo showing the poster are unclear, but it was believed to have been taken at the Henry Street store in Dublin, Ireland. A Twitter user posted the photo, expressing their disgust and seeking a response from Lush.
A spokesperson from Lush, headquartered in Poole, Dorset, stated that the company wishes for peace and safety for both Israeli and Palestinian people. However, the poster has received negative reactions, with some customers vowing to boycott Lush and criticizing the company for allowing such a sign in its shop window. On the other hand, some individuals supporting Palestine in the conflict have shown agreement with the sign. Lush clarified its position on the Middle East conflict, emphasizing its support for international law and human rights. The death toll in the ongoing conflict has surpassed 1,200 in Israel and 900 in Gaza. Lush has faced previous controversies, including a campaign featuring an image associated with cross-Channel people smugglers and the support for the Police Spies Out of Lives campaign in 2018.
In July, Lush’s directors, including CEO Mark Constantine, received large bonuses despite the company’s poor performance. These bonuses were granted despite the company benefiting from government support of £5.1 million during the pandemic. The brand has also been involved in other controversies, such as shutting down its Instagram and TikTok accounts until these platforms take action to provide a safer environment for users. In the past, Lush faced criticism for its ‘all refugees welcome’ poster, which some deemed as encouraging human trafficking. As part of this campaign, a limited edition bath bomb was released, with proceeds going to Refugee Action. Lush eventually removed posters related to the Police Spies Out of Lives campaign due to criticism that it amounted to an attack on the police. The company was founded in 1995 by six individuals who were previously involved in the now defunct mail order business Cosmetics To Go. In an attempt to create a safer online space, Lush shut down its social media channels in 2021, although it still maintains a presence on Twitter and YouTube.
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
