Beauty influencer has continued promoting products to a growing audience of Instagram followers despite widespread public backlash to her criticism of Kuwaiti reforms protecting Filipino domestic workers

More than a month after fierce backlash over comments criticising new rules protecting the rights of Filipino domestic workers, which led many brands to cut ties with her, Kuwaiti influencer Sondos Al Qattan has escaped largely unscathed, promoting products to following which grew despite the controversy.

In late July, Al Qattan posted a video in which she said that Kuwait’s new laws “are like a pathetic film” and criticised the reforms for allowing Filipino domestic workers to keep their passports and take one day off a week.

In the days that followed, widespread public outrage led many brands with which she worked to cut ties with her, including Max Factor Arabia, French perfume brand M.Micalle and the UK-based Chelsea Boutique.

More than a month after the incident, however, Al Qattan has continued operating unimpeded by the scandal, with her follower count on Instagram having gone up from 2.3 million at the time of the incident to 2.4 million today.

Al Qattan celebrated the milestone on Instagram on August 2 – nearly two weeks after the story first broke – by posting a picture of herself holding a cake with a “2.4 million” topper and thanking her followers for their support. A similar message was posted on Twitter to 27,000 followers there.

Additionally, she has continued to promote products on Instagram. Last week, for example, she posted a picture noting that she visited the factory of the Poland-based Long4Lashes company in the coastal city of Sopot in the country’s East Pomerania region.

Other recent stores include ones promoting a store sending children’s school uniforms in Kuwait, coloured contact lenses, and eyeliner.

Throughout August and early September, however, critics have continued to attack the influencer on social media, posting comments criticising her opinions that sparked the criticism.

“A woman full of make-up and foundation but her heart is full of hatred, anger and bitterness,” a Twitter user recently wrote.

Another user recently wrote “hi, I hope you’re having a horrible day. Bye.”

Comments on Al Qattan’s Instagram profile remain disabled.

Despite repeated attempts, Arabian Business has been unable to reach Al Qattan for comment on the her comments and the backlash to them.

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