Adidas terminates deal with Kanye West over anti-Semitic remarks

German sportswear giant Adidas on Tuesday cut all its ties with Kanye West after a series of anti-Semitic outbursts by the controversial rapper.

Adidas in his statement said that "After a thorough review, the company has taken the decision to terminate the partnership with Ye immediately. End production" of the highly-successful "Yeezy" line designed together with West and "stop all payments to Ye and his companies".

Adidas began a review of its relationship with West earlier this month after he appeared at a fashion show in Paris wearing a shirt with the slogan "White Lives Matter."


Comments made by West "violate the company's values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and fairness", Adidas said Tuesday.

The artist was associated with Nike for years but broke away in 2013, lending his name to Adidas as they launched their first Yeezy shoe together in 2015 -- a partnership that went on to make him a billionaire.

Adidas had come under increasing pressure from rights campaigners and entertainment world figures to stop working with West.

Paris-based fashion house Balenciaga ended ties with the rapper last week, saying it "no longer (has) any relationship nor any plans for future projects related to this artist."

On Monday, one of Hollywood's biggest talent agencies, CAA, also said it was dropping West, while film and TV producer MRC said it was shelving an already-finished documentary about the artist.

Ari Emanuel, CEO of entertainment agency Endeavor, West's ex-wife Kim Kardashian both condemn the remarks made by the rapper.

"Those who continue to do business with West are giving his misguided hate an audience," Emanuel wrote in the Financial Times. "There should be no tolerance anywhere for West's anti-Semitism."

It is estimated that partnership abrupt end would slash Adidas's net income in 2022 by "up to 250 million euros ($246 million)".

(inputs from agencies)