Freed Israeli Hostage Wears Justin Bieber’s Clothing Line Upon Release; Co-Founder Reacts (Exclusive)
The latest release of four Israeli soldiers taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, the second handover as part of a negotiated cease-fire agreement, was covered widely by international media on Saturday. In an odd press ceremony, Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa and Naama Levy were given over to the Red Cross following 477 days in captivity, and in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners. It’s a scene that’s become familiar in recent weeks.
Marking her moment of freedom, Albag was photographed from a helicopter making a heart symbol with her hands and wearing a smiley-face shirt by drew house, Justin Bieber’s clothing line that launched in 2019. Drew house co-founder Ryan Good posted images of 20-year-old Albag’s reunification on Instagram, where she could be seen wearing the blue sweatshirt branded with the classic smiley-face logo.
Reached by the Hollywood Reporter, Good delighted in Albag’s release, and that his work as creative director for the brand could play a small, if symbolic, role. “From the beginning, when I first scribbled the logo, the face, in my notebook, we always envisioned drew house to be a global symbol of love and joy,” says Good. “Those photos of Liri are a genuine representation of that. Those girls, hostages, have been through hell. To see her free and in the arms of her family, after all she’s been through, experiencing pure love and joy, is poetically beautiful.”
The swap was the second release that is part of a cease-fire deal that began earlier this month, and ushered in an initial six-week period of calm, raising hope for the end of the 15-month war. Three other hostages — Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher — were returned last weekend, when Israel returned 90 Palestinian prisoners.
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Gal Gadot, Mayim Bialik and Gwyneth Paltrow were among those in Hollywood to react to the first hostage releases last Sunday.
“Doron, Romi and Emily are home,” Gadot wrote on social media. “Three families reunited. Still holding onto hope for the 94 hostages who remain.”
Bialik also joined in the celebration, adding on Instagram, “We won’t give up until they are all home.”
Paltrow shared news of the hostages return and wrote on social media, “Let the healing begin.”
