A Virginia brow artist recently had an interaction with a client that led to her refusing services. After some back-and-forth political discussion over Israel, she ended the appointment early and asked the client to leave. After some online slander, this brow artist is now speaking out about what she experienced and why she made the decision she did.
Fatana (@karimibrows) says that a recent client of hers “crossed professional boundaries by forcing heavy political debates” in her studio. Fatana says that her client asked her where she was from, to which Fatana replied, “Afghanistan.” She says the client then told her she’s actually writing a novel about Afghanistan. During the appointment, Fatana keeps asking the client about her brows and the services she wants. But she claims the client keeps bringing the conversation back to Afghanistan and politics.
Eventually, Fatana decides to work on her brows and talk to the client about Afghanistan, hoping to give her some useful information but continue with the appointment. But while they talk, Fatana says the client started in on deeply uncomfortable topics like 9/11 and who we “should have invaded.” Fatana said the appointment made her feel weird and uncomfortable, so she eventually tried to change the topic. She asked the woman about her novel, who brought up the fact that one of the characters is Israeli and comes to America to fight in the Army. Fatana says, “Everything sounds beautiful except for the Israeli part.”
This is when the conversation goes sour, as Fatana learns that the client is Israeli-American. Fatana ignores that and tries to continue the appointment, because she says it “doesn’t matter” to her where someone comes from. She still continues to speak out against Israel on her socials, however. The two go back-and-forth about Israel and Afghanistan until Fatana gets fed up with the conversation. When the client begins trying to change Fatana’s opinion about Israel, Fatana takes her gloves off and decides to end the appointment.
Fatana records the moment she tells the client she isn’t going to continue on with the appointment. She tells the client she “doesn’t support Israel” and that she’s ending the appointment. But the client tries to tell Fatana, “You stole money from me” because she made a deposit and thinks she was entitled to the appointment. The client tries to defend herself on video, saying she thought they were having a “great conversation about Afghanistan.” Fatana tells her that she didn’t like how the client kept “defending” Israel. At this point, the client says she’s being denied services based on her “ethnicity.” She tells Fatana she’s going to “take legal action” if she doesn’t get her deposit back.
Since the posting, Fatana says the client sent threats, spammed her business email and phone, and posted about her on social media. She asked her TikTok to help her protect her business and “stand up against injustice.”
Commenters immediately flocked to Fatana’s videos on the matter, some showing support and some questioning how she handled this situation. Many commenters believe the client was well aware of Fatana’s political stance and ethnicity before she arrived. One stated, “She 100% saw your Instagram and she 100% targeted you.” One commenter added, “She planned to do that.” Another pointed out, “My ethnicity, says a blond white woman to an Afghan woman.” Commenters continue to share their opinions and support for Fatana. They continue to react, with many taking her side and others showing support for the client on these highly divisive videos.
