Hot World Cup Fan Axelle Despiegelaere Loses Gig with L’Oreal Amidst Hunting Photo Controversy

Axelle Despiegelaere lost her gig with the beauty company just after posting photos of herself hunting gazelle

By Elizabeth Freda Jul 11, 2014 10:28 PMTags
Axelle Despiegelaere, Belgium Soccer FanMARTIN BUREAU/AFP/Getty Images

It wouldn't be another day in the office if there weren't another young girl posting pictures with dead animals and stirring up controversy.

Belgian teenager Axelle Despiegelaere landed a gig with L'Oreal after the attractive teen graced the televisions of World Cup fans worldwide. However, trouble may be brewing in modeling paradise because L'Oreal recently dropped Despiegelaere. While the 17-year-old didn't have a contract with the brand, she was hired for a social media campaign. However, L'Oreal insists she was never actually hired as an official spokesmodel. 

Well, whatever she was, it's over now. And it might be because of some controversial hunting photos.

Fans were outraged after Despiegelaere posted a photo to her Facebook page (which has seen been deleted) of herself posing with a gazelle she shot. The caption read: "Hunting is not a matter of life or death. It's much more important than that..this was about 1 year ago...ready to hunt Americans today haha."

Despiegelaere's photo has since been removed and she has apologized for the post, saying it was meant as a joke and her intentions were not to offend anyone.

Rumors are swirling as to whether or not L'Oreal dropping her had anything to do with her hunting photo. Although the timing is uncanny, L'Oreal would not comment on whether the photo had any influence in the company's decision.

A L'Oreal representative said in a statement to Buzzfeed: "Axelle de Spiegelaere is not one of L'Oreal Professionnel's spokespeople. L'Oréal Professionnel Belgium collaborated with her on an ad hoc basis to produce a video for social media use in Belgium. This has now been produced."

Here is the promotional video she shot while on the job:

The photo comes hot on the heels of another hunting controversy. Kendall Jones, a Texan teen, posted photos from her hunting trip to Africa, inciting major backlash which included petitions to take down her Facebook page.