Major Controversies Surrounding Gigi Hadid: A Detailed Timeline

Controversies are a part of history. Explore the biggest scandals linked to Gigi Hadid.

Gigi Hadid is a prominent American fashion model and television personality recognized globally. She was named International Model of the Year in 2016. Hadid has graced the covers of international Vogue editions over 50 times and is considered one of the 'New Supers' by Models.com. Since 2017, she has consistently been among the highest-paid models worldwide, with earnings reaching $20 million.

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Full Timeline Controversies & Scandals

November 20, 2016: Hosted the American Music Awards and Received Backlash

On November 20, 2016, Gigi Hadid hosted the American Music Awards alongside Jay Pharoah and received backlash for her impression of Melania Trump.

January 2017: Protested Muslim Ban

In January 2017, Gigi Hadid and her sister Bella protested in New York City against the Executive Order 13780, commonly known as a "Muslim Ban", signed by former President Donald Trump.

August 2017: Vogue Cover Appearance

In August 2017, Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik appeared on the cover of American Vogue, marking the third time a couple has been featured on the cover. The cover was controversial due to Vogue mislabeling them as gender fluid.

2017: Chinese Visa Revocation

In 2017, Gigi Hadid's Chinese visa was reportedly revoked, preventing her from participating in the 2017 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. This followed criticism over an online video where she made a slant-eyes gesture, considered racist by Chinese internet users.

2017: Lawsuit by Peter Cepeda

In 2017, Peter Cepeda took a photo of Gigi Hadid, which she later posted on Instagram. He filed a lawsuit against her the following September and it was later settled outside of court.

October 2018: Photo Sharing Incident

In October 2018, Gigi Hadid shared a photo of herself that she did not have permission to share, leading to a lawsuit in January 2019.

January 2019: Lawsuit by Xclusive

In late January 2019, Gigi Hadid faced a lawsuit from Xclusive, an independent photo agency, for sharing a photo of herself taken in October 2018 without the photographer's consent.

October 2021: Harassment Charges and Relationship End

In October 2021, Zayn Malik pleaded no-contest to four charges of harassment against Gigi Hadid's mother, Yolanda. He received 360 days of probation and was ordered to attend counseling. Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik reportedly ended their relationship following the incident.

November 7, 2022: Deletion of Twitter Account

On November 7, 2022, Gigi Hadid deleted her Twitter account, citing concerns about its increasing hate and bigotry under new leadership.

July 10, 2023: Arrest in Cayman Islands

On July 10, 2023, Gigi Hadid was arrested in the Cayman Islands for importing drugs and drug paraphernalia after a small amount of marijuana and smoking utensils were found in her belongings at Owen Roberts International Airport. She was fined $1,000 and released after being charged with importation-related crimes.