Adidas is cutting ties with Kanye “Ye” West, the founder of the Yeezy brand, after more than nine years of partnership, ending one of the most successful and storied shoe partnerships and capping off a tumultuous few weeks.
On Tuesday, Adidas announced that it would terminate its partnership with West, who is now known as Ye, following his recent string of antisemitic and offensive remarks.
“Adidas does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech,” the company said in a statement. “Ye’s recent comments and actions have been unacceptable, hateful and dangerous, and they violate the company’s values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and fairness.”
Ye (his legal name), one of the most famous and successful black American entrepreneurs in history, has an estimated net worth of $2 billion.
The controversial artist and fashion designer has made a series of comments and appearances in recent months that have been termed offensive and antisemitic.
The German sporting goods maker said it had put its partnership with Ye under review early this month, amid public pressure. The once strong relationship between the two parties was immediately terminated on Oct. 25.
Adidas further detailed this would have a short-term negative impact of up to $246 million on net income in 2022 due to high seasonality in the fourth quarter.
Kanye has said that Adidas is powerless to stop his public outbursts. During an interview with the Drink Champs podcast, he claimed, “I can say antisemitic stuff and Adidas can’t drop me.” Due to this remark, several individuals, notably the Campaign Against Antisemitism, demanded that Kanye be fired.
Kanye:
“The thing about it being Adidas — I can say antisemitic things and Adidas can’t drop me. Now what? Now what?”
pic.twitter.com/a9S1EvzPk2— Rex Chapman (@RexChapman) October 21, 2022
Calls on Adidas to end the relationship came from at least three legal organizations, as well as anti-racism groups.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) pressured Adidas to cut ties with West following the performer and fashion mogul’s series of public rants in which he targeted Jewish people.
In a letter last Thursday to Adidas executives, ADL head Jonathan Greenblatt expressed dismay that the athletic apparel company had yet to officially disassociate itself from West, whose Yeezy line of footwear is made in partnership with Adidas.
Adidas began working with West in 2013, and in 2016 signed a deal to manufacture and distribute items from his Yeezy clothing line through the company and around the world.
In addition to Adidas, Ye’s talent agency, Creative Artists Agency, the clothing designer Balenciaga, and JPMorgan Chase announced they would no longer be working with him in recent days.
Sources: WayneDupree, NYpost