Adidas is under pressure to end its Kanye partnership. “Ye” West after Sunday morning’s show of support of his anti-Semitic comments from hate groups and the resurfacing of a video in which the rapper says, “I can say anti-Semitic things, and Adidas can’t drop me. Now what?”
After a show support from an antisemitic group, who raised banners in support of the rapper, with comments such as “Kanye is right about the Jews” while doing a Nazi salute, Alexander Vindman, the retired Army lieutenant colonel, who testified during Donald Trump’s 2019 impeachment inquiry, resurfaced a video of the rapper that has now become viral.
“I can literally say anti-Semitic s— and they can’t drop me. I can say anti-Semitic things,”Ye started again, moving closer to the microphone and smiling at someone off-camera. “and Adidas can’t drop me. Now what?”
“This dude Kanye is a clown. @adidas what do you think about this? He seems to imply you’re okay with antisemitism,”Vinman wrote.
Ye continues to be in the spotlight after he was blocked from Instagram and Twitter earlier in the month for posting anti-Semitic messages. One of these messages threatened to end his life. “death con 3”Jewish people. Jewish celebrities have called him out since then, saying that his behaviour was unacceptable to Jewish people. “words hurt and incite violence,”late-night hosts to mock him. An interview with Fox News’ Tucker Carlson only made things worse.
The floodgates were opened by the flurry of reactions to the hushed silence from the German corporation that designs, manufactures, and markets shoes, clothing, and accessories.
“Hello? @adidas?? Are you there?? Anyone? Stan Smith? David Beckham?? Is this thing on?? #SpeakOut #boycottadidas,” Judy Gold, comedian.
“Hey @adidas – we shouldn’t have to tell you what to do. But we’re all watching,”Another User of Twitter wrote.
George Greenblatt,The CEO of the Anti Defamation League stated, “Not only has @adidas remained silent on Ye’s #antisemitism, even as hate groups celebrate his dangerous rhetoric — they doubled down on their relationship, scheduling the release of new Kanye products. We must keep pressure on Adidas to #RunAwayFromHate.”
A petition has been filed change.orgYe, and requesting that Adidas cease its partnership with them. It says in part: “We, the undersigned, call on Adidas to end its partnership with Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, due to his repeated antisemitic outbursts. By continuing to align itself with a public figure who has revealed himself to be a virulent antisemite, Adidas would be demonstrating that it does not care about racism against Jews.”
