thank you for speaking up about palestine! i don't see many fashion & beauty writers on here discussing the current genocide. we should all be reading about these connections.
As a Jew, I am so so so so so grateful for your words. Thank you for sharing truth and connecting your expertise to the horrors and genocide happening in Gaza. Forever grateful for your work!
You are such a truly intersectional thinker! This essay is like a cool drink of water in this desert of weak, handwringing liberalism. You will probably lose a handful of your least literate readers from writing this, but I am so grateful for your intellectual rigor.
While I restocked with an abundance of sentiments, I absolutely applaud you for stepping into the space surrounding your piece. With such a highly-charged topic, your courage to share information many of us don’t have about this precise phenomena is striking.
I applaud you for tying your areas of expertise to the instances you describe and the needs for a ceasefire. Personally, I don’t take you as being “political” or one-sided here. Simply sharing stories and examples of the profound tragedies that continue to unfold. How they relate to the drives so many of us possess around having and being MORE. The desires centered around our “external” appearances and aims…
Drives and desires held by many of us. And so very unfortunately—and all too often—resulting in tragically flawed and fatal devastation.
We are innately and intrinsically wired to be driven towards and desire “more.” In a multitude of realms. You shining light on the ways that have become devastatingly perverted is sacred and courageous work.
Just when I wonder how else you’ll fascinatingly weave our efforts around “beauty” with cultural phenomena, themes and events, you come out of the gate with this remarkable speech.
Thank you for being YOU. In so many gorgeous ways.
**please pardon my unfixable typo at the very beginning of my comment and start of my first sentence. I’m still a bit perplexed about any sentiments that this is an anti-Israel post of any kind. You are giving examples of what is happening currently happening and more recently been happening.
For the forces most of us may not be aware of behind the origins of this conflict, war, genocide and endless tragedy, they sure did accomplish what had to have been a huge part of their agenda: massive continued conflict and divisiveness.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could acknowledge exactly this was and is an aim at the core of what is happening? IMHO, many players want this conflict continued for reasons that have zero reasons to do with the upset in response to your post. People want chaos and turbulence right now. People with big agendas that simply aren’t a part of headline news. Unfortunately.
Us reacting against each other instead of intersecting with more curiosity and equanimous conversations is giving some of the worse people, players and agendas the exactly what they want.
You had to have known this piece would spark reactivity and that you might lose some readers. That you still stepped into this space—and in ways I still do not see as political but about drawing from what is currently happening—is something I hope has very strong and powerful ripple effects.
This article is very inspiring. Thank you so much. You have compassionately expressed what I think many of us feel regarding the guilt of being preoccupied with the mundane while others are suffering. Violence begets more violence. It is absurd to believe the slaughtering of Palestinians will lead to peace for Israel. I will look into all the links you shared. Thank you.
Thank you for your words and your actions! I became a paid subscriber the first time I saw you mention Palestine. Understanding there is no hierarchy of suffering, that all humans hold equal value and right to life and dignity, that it is vital to speak up when the systemic wheels of repression and censorship grind upon us all, and to constantly question/challenge the narratives of settler-colonial empires and all corporate media is vital if we want to pave the road to a truly liberated world.
I am so sad to read this article. I truly respect you professionally and enjoy your work but your political comments ruined it for me. Just an acknowledgement that there were Palestinian women hiding hostages, cheering Hamas when they raped and murdered women and children, and so much more would have made your article more honest. There is so much I can say to contradict you but I will not. You have a right to your opinion. But I don’t have to pay to read it. Unfortunately I will be unsubscribing today.
There’s still no proof of the rape allegations, nor the 40 beheaded babies, there’s, on the other hand, large proof that Israel is a colonial settler state that needs to be dismantled! I became a subscriber when Jessica first mentioned Palestine, if you can speak your mind in the face of the “empire” then, yes, I will gladly offer my support both emotionally and financially! Long live the free souls of this world! One holocaust is enough horror in humanity’s conscious so let’s stop the ongoing genocide!
There are hours and hours of video from Hamas go pros from 10/7 plus photos of the aftermath showing the horror they inflicted on innocent civilians. interrogations of Hamas prisoners have confirmed rape and mutilation. I recognize nothing will change your mind, and it is not my job to do so, but I could not allow your post to remain without a reality check. Regardless of your position on the conflict, your post is fundamentally untrue.
Nancy, I agree wholeheartedly. I just woke up to this CNN headline:
Hamas says it doesn’t have 40 Israeli hostages needed for ceasefire deal, raising fears more hostages may be dead than are publicly known
These hostages are part of the tiny population of Jews. They are my family. The family members of my friends. Babies. Women. Children. Liberals. Fathers.
Why would you weaponize and politicize a beauty newsletter by using such heated, polarizing language on a topic I doubt you know much about? Genocide? You think the IDF takes pleasure in killing Palestinians? Are they handing out candies to soldiers who kill them and parading the bodies of hostages in the street? Are they raping and mutilating the bodies of Palestinian women? No, but that’s what Hamas does to the Jews.
The best thing about these Substack communities is the sense of belonging and mutual respect for members in the group who we usually do not know. Beauty is an outlet. It’s fun. It doesn’t even matter. It’s an escape. You failed at supporting that in even the smallest way. But it’s your Substack and if you wanted to send a message you were sure would hurt even one person who disagrees with you, great job, you have succeeded.
This letter is hurtful. Really hurtful. As a Jewish person in this world who has spent my life passionately fighting for social justice on all levels, I know making the world a better place is about language first. Being careful, being mindful, utilizing compassion and empathy as a tool for productive conversation, asking questions.
Fuck your use of the word genocide. Go learn about the Holocaust and quit crying about a war you have not a clue about. In fact, go to Israel. Go to Gaza. Check it out and write back to us on your findings.
I am a Muslim who has loved your work since I found it a year ago and it is so deeply touching, so affecting, that you bring this to us on the eve of Eid, an Eid where the sweetness is bitter thinking about our beloved brothers and sisters in Gaza. I am weeping. God bless you, Jessica.
Sadly, I will be unsubscribing. You make no mention of how this insane and horrific war started in the first place. You don't mention the hostages who have been tortured and raped for the past six months. You don't mention how Hamas raped women, murdered innocent people, and beheaded babies. You don't mention that Hamas broke many ceasefires or that they are intent on exterminating Jews. I mourn the loss of life in Palestine and weep for all the children who have died. Yes, one can hold both things in your heart and mind at the same time. You don't seem to be able to do that.
It started when Zionist settlers violently killed and displaced thousands of Palestinians 75 years ago…please read your history. Until Israeli people recognize that they cannot kill and torture Palestinian people while shedding crocodile tears and claiming to be the victims, no one in that area will be safe or at peace. No one wants endless violence, and it is shameful to pretend it’s only violence when it’s happening to people YOU care about. Listen to the anti-Zionist Jewish people around the world. Never again is now.
The Middle East situation is and has been the most complicated international problem for decades. It is impossible to break it down with clarity in one simple paragraph. Arm chair experts with very little historical knowledge still try in order to further the narrative of Israel as the oppressor. This is happening even when the origin of the conflict occurs during a ceasefire by terrorists against 1200 innocent people. Many of which were at a musical festival for PEACE. IMO for many a thinly veiled excuse to attack Jews with cover. No one on this thread wants innocent people dying. And most people want better efforts at aid, returning hostages and peace among Palestinians and israelis. But those goals will not be furthered by generalized inaccurate statements of fault for decades of nuanced and complicated conflict.
33,000 dead on one side, 13,000 children. This is the MINIMUM number. Many more are dead that we won’t know, and thousands more will die due to the starvation. 1,200 on the other. This is not complicated. These are numbers. This is genocide. NOT IN MY NAME
I would urge you to read your history beyond October 7th - Hamas was not created in a vacuum. Israel has been killing Palestinians since the day of its creation. Further, many of the claims of Hamas raping and killing women, babies, etc have been debunked (and admitted by the IDF and Israel government themselves).
I just watched The Zone of Interest yesterday and had chills watching that scene you wrote about here! The looting, dehumanisation, and prizing of products over personhood…I never would have thought to think about the beauty industry this way, so I’m seriously in awe and thankful for this post. Proud to be a supporter of this publication!!
I’m so sorry but you have to be fucking kidding me. Not anti Israel? Looting make up bags? Do you know that the terrorists sexually assaulted Israeli women and hostages? I am a very liberal pro-2 state solution, American-Israeli. They don’t come more peace-loving left leaning than me but I’m a totally shocked by this newsletter. I'd highly consider rethinking your words and thoughts. Maybe talk to a few more people.
thank you for speaking up about palestine! i don't see many fashion & beauty writers on here discussing the current genocide. we should all be reading about these connections.
As a Jew, I am so so so so so grateful for your words. Thank you for sharing truth and connecting your expertise to the horrors and genocide happening in Gaza. Forever grateful for your work!
You are such a truly intersectional thinker! This essay is like a cool drink of water in this desert of weak, handwringing liberalism. You will probably lose a handful of your least literate readers from writing this, but I am so grateful for your intellectual rigor.
Jessica. Wow. I’m so in continued awe of you.
While I restocked with an abundance of sentiments, I absolutely applaud you for stepping into the space surrounding your piece. With such a highly-charged topic, your courage to share information many of us don’t have about this precise phenomena is striking.
I applaud you for tying your areas of expertise to the instances you describe and the needs for a ceasefire. Personally, I don’t take you as being “political” or one-sided here. Simply sharing stories and examples of the profound tragedies that continue to unfold. How they relate to the drives so many of us possess around having and being MORE. The desires centered around our “external” appearances and aims…
Drives and desires held by many of us. And so very unfortunately—and all too often—resulting in tragically flawed and fatal devastation.
We are innately and intrinsically wired to be driven towards and desire “more.” In a multitude of realms. You shining light on the ways that have become devastatingly perverted is sacred and courageous work.
Just when I wonder how else you’ll fascinatingly weave our efforts around “beauty” with cultural phenomena, themes and events, you come out of the gate with this remarkable speech.
Thank you for being YOU. In so many gorgeous ways.
**please pardon my unfixable typo at the very beginning of my comment and start of my first sentence. I’m still a bit perplexed about any sentiments that this is an anti-Israel post of any kind. You are giving examples of what is happening currently happening and more recently been happening.
For the forces most of us may not be aware of behind the origins of this conflict, war, genocide and endless tragedy, they sure did accomplish what had to have been a huge part of their agenda: massive continued conflict and divisiveness.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could acknowledge exactly this was and is an aim at the core of what is happening? IMHO, many players want this conflict continued for reasons that have zero reasons to do with the upset in response to your post. People want chaos and turbulence right now. People with big agendas that simply aren’t a part of headline news. Unfortunately.
Us reacting against each other instead of intersecting with more curiosity and equanimous conversations is giving some of the worse people, players and agendas the exactly what they want.
You had to have known this piece would spark reactivity and that you might lose some readers. That you still stepped into this space—and in ways I still do not see as political but about drawing from what is currently happening—is something I hope has very strong and powerful ripple effects.
This article is very inspiring. Thank you so much. You have compassionately expressed what I think many of us feel regarding the guilt of being preoccupied with the mundane while others are suffering. Violence begets more violence. It is absurd to believe the slaughtering of Palestinians will lead to peace for Israel. I will look into all the links you shared. Thank you.
Thank you for your words and your actions! I became a paid subscriber the first time I saw you mention Palestine. Understanding there is no hierarchy of suffering, that all humans hold equal value and right to life and dignity, that it is vital to speak up when the systemic wheels of repression and censorship grind upon us all, and to constantly question/challenge the narratives of settler-colonial empires and all corporate media is vital if we want to pave the road to a truly liberated world.
Same here ❤️
I always learn a lot from your newsletter but it’s posts like this that remind me of why I’m a paying subscriber. Thank you for sharing this
I am so sad to read this article. I truly respect you professionally and enjoy your work but your political comments ruined it for me. Just an acknowledgement that there were Palestinian women hiding hostages, cheering Hamas when they raped and murdered women and children, and so much more would have made your article more honest. There is so much I can say to contradict you but I will not. You have a right to your opinion. But I don’t have to pay to read it. Unfortunately I will be unsubscribing today.
There’s still no proof of the rape allegations, nor the 40 beheaded babies, there’s, on the other hand, large proof that Israel is a colonial settler state that needs to be dismantled! I became a subscriber when Jessica first mentioned Palestine, if you can speak your mind in the face of the “empire” then, yes, I will gladly offer my support both emotionally and financially! Long live the free souls of this world! One holocaust is enough horror in humanity’s conscious so let’s stop the ongoing genocide!
There are hours and hours of video from Hamas go pros from 10/7 plus photos of the aftermath showing the horror they inflicted on innocent civilians. interrogations of Hamas prisoners have confirmed rape and mutilation. I recognize nothing will change your mind, and it is not my job to do so, but I could not allow your post to remain without a reality check. Regardless of your position on the conflict, your post is fundamentally untrue.
No proof? Are you fucking kidding me?!?
Nancy, I agree wholeheartedly. I just woke up to this CNN headline:
Hamas says it doesn’t have 40 Israeli hostages needed for ceasefire deal, raising fears more hostages may be dead than are publicly known
These hostages are part of the tiny population of Jews. They are my family. The family members of my friends. Babies. Women. Children. Liberals. Fathers.
Why would you weaponize and politicize a beauty newsletter by using such heated, polarizing language on a topic I doubt you know much about? Genocide? You think the IDF takes pleasure in killing Palestinians? Are they handing out candies to soldiers who kill them and parading the bodies of hostages in the street? Are they raping and mutilating the bodies of Palestinian women? No, but that’s what Hamas does to the Jews.
The best thing about these Substack communities is the sense of belonging and mutual respect for members in the group who we usually do not know. Beauty is an outlet. It’s fun. It doesn’t even matter. It’s an escape. You failed at supporting that in even the smallest way. But it’s your Substack and if you wanted to send a message you were sure would hurt even one person who disagrees with you, great job, you have succeeded.
This letter is hurtful. Really hurtful. As a Jewish person in this world who has spent my life passionately fighting for social justice on all levels, I know making the world a better place is about language first. Being careful, being mindful, utilizing compassion and empathy as a tool for productive conversation, asking questions.
Fuck your use of the word genocide. Go learn about the Holocaust and quit crying about a war you have not a clue about. In fact, go to Israel. Go to Gaza. Check it out and write back to us on your findings.
Amen
Agreed!
thank you
I am a Muslim who has loved your work since I found it a year ago and it is so deeply touching, so affecting, that you bring this to us on the eve of Eid, an Eid where the sweetness is bitter thinking about our beloved brothers and sisters in Gaza. I am weeping. God bless you, Jessica.
Sadly, I will be unsubscribing. You make no mention of how this insane and horrific war started in the first place. You don't mention the hostages who have been tortured and raped for the past six months. You don't mention how Hamas raped women, murdered innocent people, and beheaded babies. You don't mention that Hamas broke many ceasefires or that they are intent on exterminating Jews. I mourn the loss of life in Palestine and weep for all the children who have died. Yes, one can hold both things in your heart and mind at the same time. You don't seem to be able to do that.
It started when Zionist settlers violently killed and displaced thousands of Palestinians 75 years ago…please read your history. Until Israeli people recognize that they cannot kill and torture Palestinian people while shedding crocodile tears and claiming to be the victims, no one in that area will be safe or at peace. No one wants endless violence, and it is shameful to pretend it’s only violence when it’s happening to people YOU care about. Listen to the anti-Zionist Jewish people around the world. Never again is now.
Oh, dear, you are so mis-informed but I don't have the time or energy to give you a history lesson.
The Middle East situation is and has been the most complicated international problem for decades. It is impossible to break it down with clarity in one simple paragraph. Arm chair experts with very little historical knowledge still try in order to further the narrative of Israel as the oppressor. This is happening even when the origin of the conflict occurs during a ceasefire by terrorists against 1200 innocent people. Many of which were at a musical festival for PEACE. IMO for many a thinly veiled excuse to attack Jews with cover. No one on this thread wants innocent people dying. And most people want better efforts at aid, returning hostages and peace among Palestinians and israelis. But those goals will not be furthered by generalized inaccurate statements of fault for decades of nuanced and complicated conflict.
33,000 dead on one side, 13,000 children. This is the MINIMUM number. Many more are dead that we won’t know, and thousands more will die due to the starvation. 1,200 on the other. This is not complicated. These are numbers. This is genocide. NOT IN MY NAME
I would urge you to read your history beyond October 7th - Hamas was not created in a vacuum. Israel has been killing Palestinians since the day of its creation. Further, many of the claims of Hamas raping and killing women, babies, etc have been debunked (and admitted by the IDF and Israel government themselves).
I just wrote a reply to someone else below. This is so hurtful and horrific. Sending you love and support. I know. What a time.
Right on, Jessica. Thanks for speaking out about Palestine and our shared obligation.
This is beautiful, thank you for speaking up about this issue in both your newsletter and to city council, and for encouraging others to do the same.
Thanking you so deeply ❤️
I just watched The Zone of Interest yesterday and had chills watching that scene you wrote about here! The looting, dehumanisation, and prizing of products over personhood…I never would have thought to think about the beauty industry this way, so I’m seriously in awe and thankful for this post. Proud to be a supporter of this publication!!
I’m so sorry but you have to be fucking kidding me. Not anti Israel? Looting make up bags? Do you know that the terrorists sexually assaulted Israeli women and hostages? I am a very liberal pro-2 state solution, American-Israeli. They don’t come more peace-loving left leaning than me but I’m a totally shocked by this newsletter. I'd highly consider rethinking your words and thoughts. Maybe talk to a few more people.
Thank you Jessica <3