Adidas has officially concluded its dispute with Kanye West, closing the chapter on a high-profile conflict over antisemitic remarks he made in 2022, which led to the suspension of their successful “Yeezy” collaboration. After ending the partnership last year, Adidas began liquidating its Yeezy inventory at discounted prices, and the company confirmed on Tuesday that it has now reached a settlement with West to resolve all outstanding legal matters.
“There aren’t any more open issues, and no money is going either way,” said Adidas CEO Bjorn Gulden during a financial results call. Reflecting on past tensions, Gulden explained, “Both parties agreed we don’t need to fight anymore. The drama with West belongs to the past. No one owes anything to anybody anymore.”
Adidas now holds about €1.2 billion (£840 million) in unsold Yeezy stock. As part of its decision to move forward, the company will continue selling Yeezy items in batches through the end of 2024, with proceeds going to non-profits, including Adidas’s newly launched anti-discrimination foundation.
This move comes as a shift from Adidas’s strong stance in 2022, when it unequivocally condemned antisemitism and distanced itself from West’s comments, which it called “unacceptable, hateful, and dangerous,” emphasizing its commitment to diversity and inclusion.
The Adidas-Yeezy collaboration, launched in 2014, had a major impact on the sportswear market and gained a devoted following. Despite the controversy, Yeezy products have remained popular, often fetching high prices on the resale market.
West, who has been open about his mental health challenges and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, faced widespread backlash after making several antisemitic comments, resulting in his suspension from Instagram and Twitter (now X) in October 2022. His statements led to further repercussions, including his separation from Kim Kardashian and strained relationships in both his personal and professional life.
For Adidas, closing this chapter represents a return to stability while addressing the social responsibilities raised by the incident.
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