Adidas settles with Kanye West over anti-Semitic comments

Adidas has reached a settlement with US rapper Kanye West after his anti-Semitic comments prompted Adidas to cut ties with the celebrity, the brand announced on Tuesday.

“There were tensions on many issues (but)… both sides said we don’t need to fight anymore,” Adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden was quoted as saying by BBC.

The West’s anti-Semitic posts

In October 2022, Adidas announced an immediate end to its partnership with West following the artist and designer’s offensive behavior and anti-Semitic comments.

“Adidas does not tolerate anti-Semitism and any other form of hate speech,” the company wrote in a statement. “(West’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.”

Rapper Kanye West makes a point as he holds his first rally in support of his presidential bid in North Charleston, South Carolina, U.S. July 19, 2020. (Credit: RANDALL HILL/REUTERS)

Afterward, the rapper had his X/Twitter and Instagram accounts restricted, and the social media platforms said they removed his posts, which online users condemned as anti-Semitic.

Since then, Adidas discontinued West’s Yeezy collection, and BBC reported that the brand plans to end sales of the shoes at stock price by the end of 2024.

In December, West posted a written apology in Hebrew on Instagram regarding his past behavior, and earlier in 2024, he refused to comment on the Israel-Hamas war when asked by a fan on X.

“I don’t have enough information on that,” he said. “There’s love for everyone, but don’t drag me into that conversation.”