Garnier Cosmetics Backs Off Pro-Israel Giveaway

Image by getty images

By JTA August 10, 2014

The Garnier cosmetics and toiletries firm is facing a boycott threat over a donation of personal care products to female Israeli soldiers serving in the current Gaza operation.

Garnier, owned by L’Oreal, has faced a backlash after their donated products were distributed in care packages by the StandWithUs Israel advocacy group. The products were donated by Garnier Israel.

The care packages were publicized on the StandWithUs Facebook page, with a “shoutout” to Garnier for its contribution.

The company on Thursday tried to head off criticism with a statement on its Facebook page, in which it disassociated itself from the donation to the IDF.

“Garnier USA is aware of recent activity in social media. It is very important to us that our fans know that Garnier worldwide promotes peace and harmony and has a strict policy of not getting involved in any conflict or political matter. Garnier was astonished to discover this in social media. After investigation, the hand-out of about 500 products appeared to be part of a one-time local retailer initiative. Garnier disapproves of this initiative managed strictly at local level and is very sorry to have offended some of its fans.”

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you move on, I wanted to ask you to support the Forward’s award-winning journalism during our High Holiday Monthly Donor Drive.

This year, we have stood together in strength and sorrow. Our Forward team has worked around the clock to help you find clarity amid the chaos.

If you’ve turned to the Forward in the past 12 months to better understand the world around you, we hope you will support us with a gift now. Your support has a direct impact, giving us the resources we need to report from Israel and around the U.S., across college campuses, and wherever there is news of importance to American Jews.

Make a monthly or one-time gift and support Jewish journalism throughout 5785. The first six months of your monthly gift will be matched for twice the investment in independent Jewish journalism.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO