Adidas and Kanye West had a highly lucrative partnership dating back to 2014, with Yeezy sneakers becoming one of the most sought-after lines in the resale market.
US – Adidas has concluded its legal dispute with Kanye West over the antisemitic comments he made in 2022, which led to the suspension of their profitable “Yeezy” collaboration.
In a statement on Tuesday, the German sportswear giant confirmed it had reached a settlement with West, eliminating any remaining legal issues. “There aren’t any more open issues, and there is no money going either way,” Adidas CEO Bjorn Gulden said during a conference call.
Gulden emphasized that while tensions existed on various matters, both sides agreed it was unnecessary to continue fighting. “The drama with West belongs to the past,” he added.
Adidas cut ties with West in 2022 following his inflammatory remarks, which violated the company’s values on diversity, inclusion, and respect. The decision to end the partnership left Adidas with approximately €1.2 billion ($1.27 billion) in unsold Yeezy inventory.
The company began selling off this stock at wholesale prices in batches, with proceeds going to various non-governmental organizations, including its recently established anti-discrimination foundation. Adidas plans to liquidate the remaining Yeezy stock by the end of 2024.
Adidas and Kanye West had a highly lucrative partnership dating back to 2014, with Yeezy sneakers becoming one of the most sought-after lines in the resale market. Despite the controversy, demand for Yeezy products remained strong, with prices often reaching hundreds or thousands of pounds on resale platforms.
In October 2022, West, who had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and has openly discussed his mental health challenges, sparked widespread backlash after making a series of antisemitic statements on social media and in interviews.
He later doubled down on these remarks, even voicing admiration for Adolf Hitler during an appearance on conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ show, InfoWars, in December 2022. Following these incidents, West’s social media accounts were temporarily suspended.
With the recent resolution, Adidas aims to move forward, leaving the disputes behind. “No one owes anything to anybody anymore,” Gulden said. “Whatever was, is history.”
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