Muslim marriage app under fire after acquisition spotlights ‘pro-Israel’ CEO of Match Group

Muslim marriage app Salams has come under fire after users highlighted that it was acquired by the Match Group, with many accusing its CEO, Spencer Rascoff, of being ‘pro-Israel’.

Dozens of people on social media sites such as X and Reddit have called for Muslims to boycott the app, after a post from Rascoff’s LinkedIn page appeared to show support for Israeli soldiers.

Rascoff, who has worked for Match Group since March 2024, wrote a post on LinkedIn stating: "Proud to support Ohana co-founders Jacob Ian Halbert and Ezra Gershanok’s campaign to help cover rent bills for Israeli soldiers fighting overseas."

The post also included a link alongside the caption, "you can learn more and support their campaign here".

The link leads to a GoFundMe online fundraiser, which states that hundreds of Israelis in the US went to Israel to serve in the war on Gaza after 7 October 2023.

"Many of them are students/food service workers and are paying $2,000 - $5,000 in rent for their apartments while they are away. We are aiming to raise funds to provide one month of rent relief to twenty verified Israelis. This ensures they will survive financially when they return and serves as a thank-you for their service," the fundraiser description reads.

Another link shared in Rascoff’s LinkedIn post leads to a New York Post article titled ‘Thousands of military reservists from NYC rushed to Israel to fight Hamas’ and states Israelis in the US have "packed up their bags to join the fight against terrorists’ intent on wiping the Jewish state off the map".

Online, the posts have been met with scathing criticism, with many Muslims calling for users to boycott the app.

"Really important story. According to the co-founder’s LinkedIn page, they were acquired in October 2023. It’s shocking that this has gone under the radar for so long. If you use Salams, you should get off it asap in my opinion," one person wrote on X.

"Do you guys have any shame? Sold your soul to Zionists," another said.

"Due to the company's significant misalignment with our values and their investments in the oppression of our brothers and sisters abroad, the mod team has decided to blacklist Salams from our Weekly Marriage Services Thread and from general discussion on our subreddit," a Reddit post on Muslim marriage reads.

The New Arab reached out to Salams for comment, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

Salams app under fire

The calls to boycott the app comes amid Israel’s continued war on Gaza and collapse of the ceasefire agreement. At least 61,700 Palestinians in the enclave have been killed since October 2023, with the Gaza government media office stating the actual toll is expected to be much higher.

The war, which has levelled entire neighbourhoods, displaced most of the population and plunged the Strip into a deep humanitarian crisis has prompted activists to call for boycotts of other brands which are linked to or support Israel.

Match Group, the parent company of many dating apps, including Hinge, Tinder, Match and OK Cupid, has also come under fire from the founder and the CEO of a competitor marriage app – Muzz.

In a post on X, Shahzad Younas said he was not surprised by Salams being acquired by Match Group, and made him "glad Muzz didn’t sell out to them and glad we resisted Match Group's attempts to buy us and intimidate us time and time again".

Speaking to The New Arab, Younas said he believes "it was international to not publicise the acquisition until quite late, given the situation in Gaza and sensitivities.  It is clear Match Group tried to hide something, as the CEO tweet was deleted shortly after it initially went viral".

Younas has previously been critical of Match Group, particularly in 2022 when Match Group sued MuzMatch in a trademark infringement case, forcing them to rename and rebrand to 'Muzz'.

Younas also said that at the same time, Match Group tried to buy Muzz, offering them a proposal which stipulated they would not sell to a Match Group competitor, but he refused.

"MG tried to buy us 4 times (upto $35M). I said no each time," he explained. "I declined their offers as something didn't feel right - I did not feel they would help us or be a good partner for us. It was gut instinct at the time.  I felt I was selling out."

"I've said publicly on record numerous times - there is NO sum at all that I would accept from MG for Muzz - on principle I cannot allow us to be sold to a company which in my opinion act in a highly unethical fashion," he continued. 

He added that he wished Salams had remained independent, however, he understood their position and that "Match Group are a monoplpy and effectively mean they are the only real buyer in town - making exists very limited".