The company said it does not tolerate anti-Semitism or hate speech.
The sports retailer Adidas has ended its business relationship with Kanye West following his anti-Semitic posts on social media.
As CNBC reports, the company announced the news in a statement which read: “Adidas does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech.
“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.”
Previously, West had led the Yeezy collaboration with the brand. In 2020, sales for sneakers had surpassed $1.7 billion.
Adidas had put their relationship with Kanye West under review after he wore a t-shirt with the slogan ‘White Lives Matter’ on it at his fashion show.
His anti-Semitic remarks on Twitter saw him lose access to his account. He was also dropped by his talent agency and the fashion house Balenciaga.
Hate speech is never OK or excusable. I stand together with the Jewish community and call on the terrible violence and hateful rhetoric towards them to come to an immediate end.
— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) October 24, 2022
Over this weekend, an extremist hate group – the Goyim Defence League – hung an anti-Semitic banner over an LA freeway. The message on it credited West’s recent comments, in which he said he wanted to go “death con 3” on the Jewish people.
Their message read: “Honk if you know Kanye is right about the Jews.” The group were also spotted doing Nazi salutes.
Sam Yebri, who is a former member of the Anti-Defamation League condemned the group’s actions. He told the Los Angeles Times: “It’s not just words. There is clearly a connection to white supremacy and neo-Nazi movements.”
Kim Kardashian, who was married to West between 2014 and 2022, expressed her solidarity for the Jewish people and condemned anti-Semitism.
On Twitter, the reality star wrote: “Hate speech is never OK or excusable. I stand together with the Jewish community and call on the terrible violence and hateful rhetoric towards them to come to an immediate end.”
