While many brands and entities are cutting ties with Kanye West (who now goes by Ye) following the artist’s repeated antisemitic comments, one of his closest partners, Adidas, has remained silent throughout the controversy. Now, a director at the brand is putting the pressure on the company with a public LinkedIn post.
Adidas director of trade marketing Sarah Camhi posted to her account this evening, saying the brand needs to do better by its employees and community. Camhi, who is Jewish, says that Adidas recently touted a “global week of inclusion” in the midst of Ye’s hateful remarks. According to her post, Adidas has not only remained quiet publicly, but it’s also said nothing about the matter internally to its employees.
Camhi argues Adidas has dropped athletes for far less problematic instances including the use of steroids and being perceived as difficult to work with, yet has failed to address the hate speech from Ye.
“We need to do better as a brand,” Camhi writes. “We need to do better for our employees and we need to do better for our communities. Until Adidas takes a stand, I will not stand with Adidas.”
On October 6, Adidas announced that its partnership with Ye was under review after a string of posts targeting the brand and its supervisory board. Days later, Ye began his descent into anti-Semitic speech by tweeting he would go “DEATH CON 3 on Jewish people.”
Adidas has yet to acknowledge his most latest comments, which have been amplified through an appearance on Drink Champs and interviews with the likes of Tucker Carlson and Piers Morgan. In the Drink Champs episode, he taunted the brand over this exact matter. “The thing about me and Adidas is like, I can literally say antisemitic shit, and they can’t drop me,” he said.
Despite Adidas’ silence, many brands have recently taken action against Ye. Balenciaga confirmed Friday it had no future plans to work him. Vogue’s Anna Wintour has reportedly cut ties with him. Talent agency CAA dropped him today, and Def Jam confirmed that his G.O.O.D. Music imprint is no longer affiliated with the label.
Adidas did not respond to request for comment.
