Mia Khalifa Cut From Playboy Podcast After Controversial Israel-Palestine Remarks

Mia Khalifa's Playboy Podcasting Stint Ends Amidst Controversy

Controversy hit media personality and former adult star Mia Khalifa as she was reportedly let go from her podcasting contract with Playboy following her public comments on the escalating Israel-Hamas conflict. The upheaval began on Saturday, October 7, when Hamas launched what is being described as the group's largest assault on Israel to date. By Tuesday, October 10, reports confirmed that 900 individuals had lost their lives in Israel, while the Palestinian health ministry recorded 830 fatalities in Gaza.

A Stake in the Conflict

Khalifa, who had been creating content for Playboy's digital creator platform since its launch in March, voiced her support for Palestine amidst the ongoing violence. Her social media posts have raised eyebrows, particularly her call for "freedom fighters in Palestine to flip their phones and film horizontal." Khalifa clarified her intention was not to incite violence but to advocate for Palestinian autonomy. "I specifically said freedom fighters because that’s what the Palestinian citizens are… fighting for freedom every day," she elaborated.

“I just want to make it clear that this statement in no way shape or form is enticing [the] spread of violence," Khalifa stated.

Playboy Breaks Ties

Despite her clarifications, Playboy took decisive action. An email circulated by the company on Tuesday revealed that they were severing ties with Khalifa, citing her comments as "disgusting and reprehensible." The email also mentioned that Khalifa's Playboy channel would be deleted, underscoring their zero-tolerance stance on hate speech. "We expect Mia to understand her words and actions have consequences," the email sternly noted.

Visitors who attempt to access Khalifa’s profile now find an error page instead. Representatives from both Mia Khalifa and Playboy have been contacted by various media outlets for further comments.

Backlash Beyond Playboy

The backlash wasn’t limited to her Playboy contract. Josh Shapiro, the owner of an Amsterdam-based cannabis company, also dismissed Khalifa following her contentious remarks. Responding to her call for horizontal videos, Shapiro tweeted that she should "consider [herself] fired." Khalifa retorted with a statement about her business dealings, noting, "I’m more angry at myself for not checking whether or not I was entering into business with Zionists.”

Despite losing opportunities, Khalifa stands firm on her stance. "It’s FREE PALESTINE until Palestine is FREE," she declared, capping her response on Twitter/X.

As the conflict continues, public figures like Madonna, Natalie Portman, and Jamie Lee Curtis have also weighed in, sharing their thoughts on the ongoing violence.