The son of British perfume magnate Jo Malone is an organizer for the Harvard College Palestine Solidarity Committee, one of the groups behind the letter blaming Israel for Hamas’ deadly attacks that left more than 1,200 people dead and thousands wounded.
Josh Willcox, a 22-year-old senior at the Ivy League school who is pursuing a concentration in Near Eastern languages and civilizations, is a member of the group, according to his byline on several op-ed columns he wrote for the campus newspaper Harvard Crimson.
Palestine Solidarity Committee is one of 34 groups that attached their name to the incendiary letter, which sparked a furious backlash.
Willcox is the only child of Jo Malone, 60, and her husband, Gary Willcox. The parents have relocated from London to Dubai, where they run Jo Loves, a fragrance and cosmetics company.
The family sold their interest in the eponymous Jo Malone London perfume company to Estée Lauder, who founded the company and whose son Ronald Lauder serves as the president of the World Jewish Congress.
Jo Malone no longer has ties to the brand.
The Post reached out to Estee Lauder for comment.
Willcox, who is also a member of Harvard’s men’s fencing team, has penned several op-eds for the Crimson in which he denounces “the brutal oppression of Palestinians” by “an apartheid regime” — a reference to Israel.
In January, Willcox wrote an op-ed blasting Harvard Kennedy School for extending a fellowship to Amos Yadlin, a former senior officer in the Israeli military.
Willcox took the university to task for “welcom[ing] agents of colonial violence.”
In February, Willcox co-authored an op-ed alongside two other organizers for the Palestine Solidarity Committee — Nadine Bahour and Shraddha Joshi — condemning “Harvard’s anti-Palestinian racism and institutional bias towards Israeli policy.”
Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman demanded that Harvard release a list of the names of students who are members of the group so that they be denied employment — a move that former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers said was excessive.
In response to the backlash, several of the groups renounced their affiliation with the letter as students and professors insisted that not all members knew about the contents of the missive.
A “doxxing truck” was seen on Wednesday driving around the campus of Harvard University with digital billboards that display the names and photos of students who allegedly signed the letter.
The Post has sought comment from Josh Willcox, Malone, and the Palestine Solidarity Committee.
Wilcox’s affiliation with Palestine Solidarity Committee was first reported by Daily Mail.
“We as a family are heartbroken by the events of recent days and strongly condemn all forms of violence,” Malone told Daily Mail in a statement.
Malone declined to specifically address her son’s involvement in the letter.
“The abhorrent attack on innocent people on Saturday in Israel is beyond what any family should endure.”
“We again strongly condemn all forms of violence and those that incite it,” the statement to Daily Mail read.
“We have always acted with a heart for people wanting always to strive towards a peaceful solution to any conflict.”
Malone told Daily Mail: “This is an horrendous moment in our history where innocent people are paying the greatest price with their lives. It is utterly heartbreaking and must stop.”
“As a family our hearts goes out to all those suffering terrible losses at this time and we send untold gratitude to all those selflessly risking their lives for others,” Malone said.
“We call upon all leaders to find a humanitarian resolution for all.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
