LONDON (HPD) — Adidas has ended its deal with the rapper formerly known as Kanye West over his offensive and anti-Semitic remarks.
“Adidas does not tolerate anti-Semitism or any other type of hate speech,” the company said in a statement on Tuesday. “Ye’s recent statements and actions have been unacceptable, hateful and dangerous, and violate the company’s values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and fairness.”
The decision came after the German sportswear company faced calls from celebrities and others on social media to sever its relationship with Ye. Earlier this month, the firm indicated it was reviewing its lucrative sneaker deal with the rapper.
Adidas is the latest company to disassociate itself from Ye, who has also been suspended from Twitter and Instagram for anti-Semitic posts that the platforms said violated their policies.
Adidas said Tuesday that it has conducted a “comprehensive review” and will immediately end its Yeezy products and payments to Ye and his companies. He predicted the move will cost him up to 250 million euros ($246 million) this year.
Ye recently suggested that black people in the United States were slaves by choice and called the COVID-19 vaccine “the mark of the beast,” among other comments. At a fashion show in Paris she wore a T-shirt with the words “White Lives Matter”.
Ye’s talent agency, CAA, has cut ties with him, and studio MRC announced on Monday that it has canceled plans to make a documentary about the rapper.
Fashion company Balenciaga severed ties with Ye last week, Women’s Wear Daily reported. JPMorganChase and Ye have cut ties, although that decision was ongoing before the anti-Semitic comments.
In recent weeks, Ye has also announced plans to cut ties with Gap and Bloomberg.
After being suspended from Twitter and Facebook, Ye offered to buy the right-wing social network Parler.
On a Los Angeles elevated street Saturday, a group of protesters unwrapped a sign in support of Ye’s anti-Semitic remarks, prompting outcry on social media from celebrities and others who stood in solidarity with the Jewish people.