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Adidas says it’s probing allegations it ignored Kanye West’s inappropriate behavior
Former staff say rapper, who recently made several antisemitic outbursts, would show pornography to employees during meetings, intimidate women
Adidas said Thursday it was investigating claims against Kanye West after a report detailed alleged inappropriate behavior, just weeks after the German sportswear giant ended its partnership with the rapper.
US magazine Rolling Stone reported claims that the rapper played pornography to Adidas staff in meetings, discussed porn and showed an intimate photo of ex-wife Kim Kardashian in job interviews.
It said former members of the team involved in Yeezy — the product line designed with the rapper — had released a letter alleging Adidas executives were aware of the behavior, which went on for years, but turned a blind eye.
“It is currently not clear whether the accusations made in an anonymous letter are true,” Adidas said in a statement.
“However, we take these allegations very seriously and have taken the decision to launch an independent investigation of the matter immediately to address the allegations.”
The Rolling Stone report, citing unnamed former staff, alleged the rapper used intimidation tactics with employees, which were often directed toward women.
After one disagreement, Kanye West allegedly made a young female designer sit on the floor for a meeting that lasted hours, according to a former staffer in the room.
"You don’t deserve to sit at the table," the staffer recalled West saying. MORE: https://t.co/S9W9W3yPWb pic.twitter.com/pfnq8q6ttj
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) November 23, 2022
In the letter, the ex-Yeezy employees urged Adidas to address “the toxic and chaotic environment that Kanye West created.”
The new revelations came after Adidas last month terminated its lucrative tie-up with West — now known as Ye — after a series of antisemitic outbursts by the star in October. In just one week, the rapper linked Jews to financial manipulation, accused Jared Kushner of brokering the Abraham Accords for financial gain and tweeted that he wanted to go “death con 3” on Jews in what was likely a mistaken use of the US military heightened alert status DEFCON 3.
At the time, the company said his comments were “unacceptable, hateful and dangerous” and cut ties with the celebrity.
Controversial rapper
The sports outfitter took a heavy financial blow from the move, which it forecast would cut its 2022 net income in half.
In its latest statement Thursday, Adidas said it has been and continues to be “actively engaged in conversations with our employees about the events that lead to our decision to end the partnership.”
“They have our full support and as we’re working through the details of the termination.”
Adidas began a review of its relationship with West after he appeared at a Paris fashion show wearing a shirt emblazoned with “White Lives Matter,” a slogan created as a backlash to the Black Lives Matter movement.
Days later he was locked out of Twitter and Instagram over antisemitic threats, which he later blamed on the “Jewish media.”
The artist was associated with rival sportswear company Nike for years but broke away in 2013, lending his name to Adidas as they launched their first Yeezy shoe in 2015 — a partnership that went on to make him a billionaire.
Along with Beyonce, Stella McCartney and Pharrell Williams, West has been one of the top names used by Adidas to boost sales, especially online.
But rights campaigners and entertainment world figures had heaped pressure on Adidas to stop working with the rapper.
US clothing company Gap and Paris-based fashion house Balenciaga have also recently ended tie-ups with West.
Earlier this month, Adidas named a new CEO — Bjorn Gulden, chief of rival outfitter Puma. As well as the fallout from the West controversy, he faces the task of improving sales that have been hit by COVID restrictions in key market China.
