Megan Fox champions Lebanese designer at 2020 AMAs

The Hollywood star wore an Azzi & Osta look at the 2020 American Music Awards. AFP
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Updated 23 November 2020
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Megan Fox champions Lebanese designer at 2020 AMAs

DUBAI: On Sunday night, the 48th annual American Music Awards (AMA) kicked off at Los Angeles’s Microsoft Theater. The AMAs are one of the music industry’s biggest nights. Before the show began, however, A-list celebrities hit the socially-distanced red carpet, showcasing their theatrical, performance-ready looks before hitting the main stage. The annual awards show has a history of rebellious and playful outfits and this year’s ceremony was no different. A few celebrities were also spotted wearing designs from Arab labels. 

US actress Megan Fox and her partner Machine Gun Kelly marked a major celebrity relationship milestone, making their red carpet debut together as a couple — and they were dressed to the nines for the occasion. 

The “Transformers” star, who presented an award at the ceremony, wore an emerald green asymmetrical top and matching A-line skirt by Lebanese design duo Azzi & Osta. She paired the look, which was plucked from the Beirut-based brand’s Fall 2020 ready-to-wear collection, with a Tyler Ellis clutch and Giambattista Valli sandals. 




Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly at the 2020 American Music Awards. AFP

The couture house, helmed by George Azzi and Assaad Osta, is a bonafide celebrity go-to for important red carpet events. Who can forget when Beyonce rocked up to the annual Clive Davis Pre-Grammy party in New York in 2018 wearing a black fishtail gown from Azzi & Osta that took 300 hours to create?

Meanwhile, Fox wasn’t the only A-lister to champion a Lebanese designer at Sunday evening’s ceremony.

Host Taraji P. Henson, who led the star-studded evening, donned a series of glamorous outfits throughout the evening, including an ensemble by Beirut-based couturier Georges Hobeika.




Taraji P. Henson wearing Georges Hobeika at the 2020 American Music Awards. AFP

The 50-year-old actress kicked things off with a metallic, sequined Armani Privé mini dress and matching headwrap before she took to the stage to show off a number of stylish wardrobe changes.

In addition to a metallic Carolina Herrera gown, a Perry Meek catsuit and a black-and-white Area dress, Henson also donned a custom Georges Hobeika outfit while hosting the show.

The look boasted a sheer, beaded skirt with a thigh high slit and an asymmetric top featuring an oversized keyhole cutout.


UK entrepreneur says people who disagree with his Palestine solidarity should not shop at his stores

Updated 22 December 2025
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UK entrepreneur says people who disagree with his Palestine solidarity should not shop at his stores

  • Mark Constantine shut all British branches of cosmetics retailer Lush earlier this year in solidarity with Gaza
  • ‘I don’t think being compassionate has a political stance,’ he tells the BBC

LONDON: A British cosmetics entrepreneur has told people who disagree with his support for Palestine not to shop at his businesses.

Mark Constantine is the co-founder and CEO of the Lush chain of cosmetic stores, which temporarily closed all of its UK outlets earlier this year in an act of solidarity with the people of Gaza.

He told the BBC that people should be “kind, sympathetic and compassionate,” that those who are “unkind to others” would not “get on very well with me,” and that anyone who disagrees with his views “shouldn’t come into my shop.”

He told the “Big Boss Interview” podcast: “I’m often called left wing because I’m interested in compassion. I don’t think being compassionate has a political stance.

“I think being kind, being sympathetic, being compassionate is something we’re all capable of and all want to do in certain areas.”

In September, every branch of Lush in the UK, as well as the company’s website, were shut down to show solidarity for the people of Gaza.

A statement on the page where the website was hosted read: “Across the Lush business we share the anguish that millions of people feel seeing the images of starving people in Gaza, Palestine.”

Messages were also posted in the windows of all the shuttered stores, stating: “Stop starving Gaza, we are closed in solidarity.”

Constantine was asked if he thought his views on Gaza could harm his business, and whether people might decide not to deal with him as a result.

“You shouldn’t come into my shop (if you don’t agree),” he said. “Because I’m going to take those profits you’re giving me and I’m going to do more of that — so you absolutely shouldn’t support me.

“The only problem is, who are you going to support? And what are you supporting when you do that? What is your position?”