Gwen Stefani is facing backlash from her fans after promoting the religious app Hallow — a platform accused of “anti-abortion” and conservative positions. Her fans, many of whom are LGBTQ+, are speaking out about deep disappointment and betrayal by an artist who has for years promoted diversity and acceptance.
The No Doubt singer, who recently promoted the Hello Through a Christmas campaign, she appears in a video dressed in white, wearing a cross and talking about the importance of prayer during the holiday season. In her message, she called on the audience to “let Jesus bring peace to our hearts”, emphasizing that “this is the true meaning of Christmas”.
The post, which was accompanied by the phrase “paid partnership,” immediately sparked backlash on social media. Many of Stefani’s fans commented that the partnership “goes against the values of her community,” with one commenter writing, “Many of your fans are queer people and this feels like a betrayal.”
Gwen Stefani herself has referred to her faith many times in recent years, stating that she reconnected with religion in 2020. However, her participation in an app that is allegedly linked to "anti-abortion" messages, according to several reports, made many feel that the pop icon they grew up admiring has changed radically.
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The podcast host A Bit Fruity, Matt Bernstein, was among the first to openly react, accusing Stefani of “promoting a right-wing, anti-abortion, paid prayer app.” In his post, he read excerpts from prayers included in the app, such as: “Lord, we pray for every woman considering abortion to know the gift and beauty of her child’s life.” He called Hallow a “pay-to-pray app” and accused the platform of “exploiting religiosity for financial gain.”
Among those who reacted was Chrishell Stause from Selling Sunset, who commented ironically referring to the iconic song "Don't Speak": "Maybe it's time to follow your own advice."
Gwen Stefani, despite the backlash, has not responded publicly. Hallow, which she has participated in before by reading prayers, has collaborated with other well-known personalities such as Mark Wahlberg, Chris Pratt and Bear Grylls. However, many have pointed out that conservative figures such as Vice President JD Vance and businessman Peter Thiel, known for their right-wing positions in the US, are behind the app.
Many fans said they “felt betrayed” seeing Gwen associated with a brand that, they said, “goes against the values of the LGBTQ+ community.” One user commented, “The girl I looked up to as a kid, who showed me that I could be different, is now promoting a conservative, regressive app. I’m shocked.”
There were also voices in Stefani's favor, however. Some defended her, saying she "has every right to express her faith," calling the reactions excessive. One user wrote: "Gwen has the right to find God in her own way. If that makes her happy, who are we to judge her?"
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Hallow, billed as “the world’s most popular Catholic prayer app,” has over 10 million downloads. But Stefani’s partnership has reignited the debate over whether celebrities should link their personal faith with commercial partnerships.
At the same time, Gwen is preparing for the long-awaited No Doubt reunion, with a series of concerts in Las Vegas in 2026. The original dates at the MSG Sphere immediately sold out, forcing the production to add six additional shows.
While for some Stefani was simply following her religious path, for many others her move opened up a larger issue: how far can a pop star go when her faith clashes with her audience's values?
The only thing for sure is that the conversation surrounding Gwen Stefani and the promotion of Hallow has just begun — and it's unlikely to die down anytime soon.
