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Adidas ends relationship with Kanye West after pressure to sever ties over anti-Semitic comments

October 26, 2022

Adidas has cut ties with Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, after it came under pressure to end its partnership with the rapper following his anti-Semitic comments with growing backlash against the artist and causing him to lose additional commercial contracts.

“Adidas does not tolerate anti-Semitism and any other type of hate speech,” the company said in a statement Tuesday. “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.”

The German sports brand said the decision to “immediately” end its partnership with Ye came after a “thorough review”.

Gap, which announced in September that it was ending its partnership with Yeezy Gap, said in a statement Tuesday, “We are taking immediate action to remove Yeezy Gap product from our stores and are shutting down YeezyGap.com.”

“Anti-Semitism, racism and hatred in any form are inexcusable and will not be tolerated consistent with our values,” the company said. “On behalf of our customers, employees and shareholders, we partner with organizations that fight against hate and discrimination.”

Adidas, which began its partnership with Ye in 2013, said it would end production of Yeezy-branded products and stop all payments to Ye and his companies.

“Adidas will discontinue the Adidas Yeezy business with immediate effect,” the statement read.

The move is expected to have a “negative short-term impact of up to €250 million,” or approximately $246 million, on the company’s net income in 2022, the company said.

The decision comes amid growing pressure from online users demanding that the company end its relationship with the artist after an anti-Semitic hate group was accused of hanging a banner on a Los Angeles freeway on Saturday reading “Kanye right about the Jews”.

The banner has been condemned by a large number of local politicians, social media users and celebrities.

Also Tuesday, Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald and the Boston Celtics Jaylen Brown said they were leaving Ye’s Donda Sports.

“Our family has made the decision to part ways with Donda Sports. The recent comments and displays of hate and anti-Semitism are the exact opposite of how we choose to live our lives and raise our children,” Donald said. and his wife, Erica, in a statement.

In May, Donald announced on a podcast that he had joined Donda Sports for marketing purposes, NBC Sports reported.

Kim Kardashian, Ye’s ex-wife, tweeted Monday that she pledged to “stand with the Jewish community and call for an immediate end to the terrible violence and hateful rhetoric directed against it.” She didn’t mention Ye or Adidas in the tweet.

Adidas also said earlier this month that it was reassessing its partnership with Ye after he donned a “White Lives Matter” shirt during Paris Fashion Week.

Cutting Ties follows steps taken by others in the fashion and entertainment industries – including luxury fashion house Balenciaga and talent agency CAA – in response to the singer’s controversies. NBC News reached out to a publicist for Ye for comment.

Ye was also restricted online by being locked out of his Twitter account and restricted on Instagram earlier this month amid backlash for anti-Semitic posts.

The Anti-Defamation League welcomed the announcement, with CEO Jonathan Greenblatt saying, “This is a very positive result. This shows that anti-Semitism is unacceptable and has consequences.

“Without a doubt, Adidas did the right thing by cutting ties with Ye after his vicious anti-Semitic rants,” he said, noting that thousands emailed, celebrities took speech and leading brands have severed ties with the artist as part of the campaign decrying Your Feedback.

“Adidas’ action sends a powerful message that anti-Semitism and bigotry have no place in society,” Greenblatt said.

Marlene Lenthang is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.

Morgan Sung and Phil Health contributed.