Adidas sticks by Kanye West as consumers lead petition to cut ties

By

Cassidy Mantor

Published
May 3, 2018

In response to Kanye West's recent comments about slavery, a new consumer-led petition on Care2 is asking Adidas to drop his Yeezy line and cut all ties with West.

The Care2 petition explains that it stems from "a bizarre interview with TMZ yesterday, [in which West] said that he believed that black Americans chose to live in bondage for more than 400 years."

However, Adidas' CEO responded on Thursday saying the sportswear firm was "very committed"  to the brand, although it had minimal impact on sales, adding that most Yeezy products are primarily released to generate buzz, due to being limited in number. 

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"“It is clear there are some remarks that we don’t support,” Chief Executive Kasper Rorsted told journalists, on the group's earning conference call. "We are very committed to the Yeezy brand moving forward.”

West originally joined his Yeezy brand with Adidas in 2013. In 2016, Adidas announced a global strategy suggesting a long-term relationship with West's Yeezy, including an expansion of its apparel lines and also future retail stores.

West has been making headlines recently with other comments that seemingly infuriate his core consumer. He came out in support of President Donald Trump on Twitter last week, and then restated his support of the President in the TMZ interview saying, ""I just love Trump. That's my boy."

The petition says, "Kanye West has a right to free speech,... but we as consumers have the right to fight back against this type of dangerous propaganda." It then asks Adidas to "cut ties with Kanye West."

Yeezy drops a new collection this Saturday in partnership with sportswear label 2XU. Yeezy x 2XU includes $450 tights which West's wife, Kim Kardashian West, teased on her social media a month ago. The Season 7 Yeezy collection will be available at 2XU's store at Westfield Century City.

It is possible that West's comments were meant to stir publicity for his brand surrounding the new launch, although it is unclear what new market he might be pursuing. Time will tell whether he continues to clarify his comments with the media.

The Care2 petition for Adidas to drop affiliation with him is seeking 10,000 signatures, and currently has over 5,000.