Rapper Kanye West claimed this week that he can make as many antisemitic comments as he'd like, and Adidas would not be able to drop him from the company's campaigns.
West, a hip-hop artist and fashion designer, made the comments on Thursday, the same day that the Anti-Defamation League called on the athletic apparel company to drop West’s apparel line due to his recent multiple incidents of antisemitism.
"The thing about it being Adidas is like, I can literally say antisemitic s*** and they cannot drop me," West said on a video that circulated on social media. "Now what?"
ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt sent a letter to Adidas expressing concern over the company's plans to continue releasing products by West and calling on the company to "reconsider" after West made a series of public remarks that were widely regarded as antisemitic.
Campaign Against Antisemitism joins appeal to Adidas
Similarly, Campaign Against Antisemitism also urged Adidas to drop Wests' apparel line "due to his repeated antisemitic outbursts."
We are calling on @adidas to end its partnership with Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, due to his repeated antisemitic outbursts.“I can say antisemitic things and Adidas can’t drop me. Now what?”Adidas must answer Ye’s question. https://t.co/RR9KWSL3jX pic.twitter.com/q8Nz33YzOD
— Campaign Against Antisemitism (@antisemitism) October 20, 2022
West, who recently changed his name to Ye, has become embroiled in controversy after he made several posts on social media maligning Jews, including a tweet in which he said he was "going death con 3 [sic] on JEWISH PEOPLE." The tweet added: "The funny thing is I actually can't be Anti Semitic [sic] because black people are actually Jew also You guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball anyone whoever [sic] opposes your agenda."
Furthermore, West said he thought the Abraham Accords between Israel, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates were mediated by former senior White House advisor Jared Kushner "to make money."
“We urge Adidas to reconsider supporting the Ye product line and to issue a statement making clear that the Adidas company and community has no tolerance whatsoever for antisemitism.”
Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO and National Director, Anti-Defamation League
"In light of Kanye West’s increasingly strident antisemitic remarks over the past few weeks, we were disturbed to learn that Adidas plans to continue to release new products from his Yeezy brand without any seeming acknowledgment of the controversy surrounding his most recent remarks," Greenblatt wrote.
"We urge Adidas to reconsider supporting the Ye product line and to issue a statement making clear that the Adidas company and community has no tolerance whatsoever for antisemitism," he added. "I’d be more than happy to discuss this matter with you at your convenience. We stand ready to work with you in whatever way possible to ensure that antisemitism has no place in Adidas."