‘F*** Adidas’: Kanye West SLAMS sportswear brand as they put their partnership with rapper ‘under review’ following his ‘White Lives Matter’ T-shirt controversy
Kanye West hit out at Adidas on Thursday morning, after the company announced that it has put ‘under review’ its business partnership with him.
The rapper, 45, did not take too kindly to Adidas’ statement as he hopped on Instagram with a screenshot of the announcement, writing: ‘F**K ADIDAS I AM ADIDAS ADIDAS RAPED AND STOLE MY DESIGNS.’
The German sporting goods maker released a statement this morning revealing they are reviewing their business dealings with the outspoken musician following his very public criticism of the company and their CEO.
Business feud: Kanye West hit out at Adidas on Thursday morning, after the company announced that it has put ‘under review’ its business partnership with him; Pictured 2022
‘After repeated efforts to privately resolve the situation, we have taken the decision to place the partnership under review. We will continue to co-manage the current product during this period,’ the company said.
CNBC, which first reported the news, said West had been publicly critical of Adidas and its CEO and told the broadcaster that the German group was copying his ideas. Adidas has been partnering with West since 2013, CNBC said.
‘Adidas has always been about creativity, innovation and supporting athletes and artists to achieve their vision. The adidas Yeezy partnership is one of the most successful collaborations in our industry’s history,’ Adidas said.
Upset: The rapper, 45, did not take too kindly to Adidas’ statement as he hopped on Instagram with a screenshot of the announcement, writing: ‘F**K ADIDAS’
Taking a stand: Adidas’ statement comes amid an on-going public clash with Kanye (seen in 2022) who’s been continually going after the sportswear giant on his social media, as he says they has pilfered his ideas and kept him out of the loop in terms of marketing the product
‘We also recognize that all successful partnerships are rooted in mutual respect and shared values.’
It’s been an eventful week for Ye, who shocked his fans on Monday when he wore a ‘White Lives Matter’ T-shirt design at his surprise Yeezy fashion show in Paris.
He doubled down on his ‘White Lives Matter’ slogan on Wednesday and explained that when people ask why he made the shirt he replies that it’s because ‘They do.’
News about Adidas putting the partnership under review comes less than a month after West’s lawyers sent a letter to Gap Inc notifying the apparel chain he was terminating his partnership with the company.
Adidas’ statement comes amid an on-going public clash with Kanye who’s been continually going after the sportswear giant on his social media, as he says the company has pilfered his ideas and kept him out of the loop in terms of marketing the product.
Shocking the fans: It’s been an eventful week for Ye, who shocked his fans on Monday when he wore a ‘White Lives Matter’ T-shirt design at his surprise Yeezy fashion show in Paris
‘They do’: Kanye West doubled down on his ‘White Lives Matter’ slogan on Wednesday and explained that when people ask why he made the shirt he replies that it’s because ‘They do’
In recent months West has ranted about the company, posted pictures of its board members, and called out CEO Kasper Rorsted, even creating fake image of a New York Times front page that claimed Rorsted had died.
West has garnered support from a number of his contemporaries in the hip-hop community, such as Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, Swizz Beatz and T.I. who wowed to boycott the brand.
Earlier this month, Ye was on a social media blitz against the two clothing companies, accusing Adidas of seizing creative control over the Yeezy brand and stealing his design ideas to produce shoes similar to his Boost trainers. He also claimed that the shoe company ripped off his design for slides.
Over it: The German sporting goods maker released a statement this morning revealing they are reviewing their business dealings with the outspoken musician following his very public criticism of the company and their CEO Kasper Rørsted; Kasper seen March 14, 2018
The latest: In September the Donda hitmaker posted and deleted a fake New York Times newspaper that falsely claimed Rørsted had ‘died’ at 60
‘No one should be held in that position where people can steal from them and say we’re just paying you to shut up,’ he told Bloomberg. ‘That destroys innovation. That destroys creativity. That’s what destroyed Nikola Tesla.’
He’s hammered Adidas executives with a series of mocking Instagram posts until, he claims, his lawyers stepped in and asked him to stop.
In some of the posts, he superimposed Adidas executive Daniel Cherry’s head on another person’s body and created mocking videos of the corporate leader.
Wow: Soon after, Kanye posted a snap of Daniel Cherry, who is the SVP/General Manager of Adidas
Taunting: The rapper-turned-designer has publicly declared a feud with Adidas, whom he’s partnered with via his Yeezy empire
Ye also went after JPMorgan Chase, where he holds much of his money after switching from a small Wyoming bank, for not backing him in his war against the popular clothing brands.
‘I’ve went to JP Morgan but of course they won’t give me no deal flow cause Jin(g) Ulrich is on the board of both Adidas and JP Morgan. What shoe company will give me control. I need to be the head of the board and chief decision maker,’ he posted.
Jing Ulrich is the Chase vice chare of investment banking. Ye also tried to get banking titan Jamie Dimon on the phone, but was ghosted by the financier.
Leading the way: Kanye has had a very successful partnership with the Germany based shoe giant with his Adidas Yeezy line which launched in 2015
Fake Yeezys: In September, Kanye took to Instagram, blasting the shoe company and Rorstad for releasing Yeezy lookalike slides (left) which he dubbed, ‘fake Yeezys’, (R) Kanye’s Yeezy slides sold at Adidas
‘I feel like there’s a lot of controlling and handling to suppress my ability to affect the American economy and industry,’ the rapper said of Chase.
Bloomberg reported that Ye holds $122 million cash and stock, but that his corporate deals make him a billionaire.
The Yeezy brand earned $191 billion in royalties in 2020 from the Adidas deal, according to USB Group AG.
The recording artist has groused almost from the beginning of his corporate collaborations that he was being frozen out of decision-making.
Moneymaker: The Yeezy brand earned $191 billion in royalties in 2020 from the Adidas deal, according to USB Group AG; Kanye pictured in 2019
Headache: Ye’s public disagreements with brands have created a corporate headache after other public figures like Sean Combs and Swizz Beatz declared a public boycott on Adidas
In July 2020, Gap stock dipped 7.4 percent after he threatened to pull out of deals with the clothing company a month after he signed the partnership with his Yeezy brand.
He threatened to do the same to the international sneaker maker, but their stock ended up for the day.
The musician’s public disagreements with the brands have created a corporate headache after other public figures like Sean Combs and Swizz Beatz declared a public boycott on Adidas.
Interesting: It comes after Kim Kardashian’s ex-husband formally notified Gap that he is terminating their partnership, alleging that Gap breached their agreement by not releasing apparel as planned
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