Kanye West’s partnership with Adidas may be in jeopardy as the franchise announced its review of contract with the rapper. West’s collaboration with Adidas is being reviewed due to ongoing controversy.
The company released a statement announcing that the partnership with the rapper’s fashion brand will be evaluated. The announcement came following West’s public criticism of the brand.
Adidas Reviews Their Partnership With Kanye
This also comes days following West’s controversial Paris Fashion Week show for Yeezy Season 9. Adidas released a statement announcing that the 45-year-old Yeezy designer’s collaboration with the brand was going to be reviewed.
“Adidas has always been about creativity, innovation, and supporting athletes and artists to achieve their vision,” the company said in a statement on October 6. The public address read on:
“The Adidas Yeezy partnership is one of the most successful collaborations in our industry’s history. We are proud of our team that has worked tirelessly throughout our collaboration with Ye and the iconic products that were born from it. We also recognize that all successful partnerships are rooted in mutual respect and shared values.”
“After repeated efforts to privately resolve the situation, we have taken the decision to place the partnership under review. We will continue to co-manage the current product during this period.”
West also responded to the retailing giant’s statement via social media. “F–K ADIDAS I AM ADIDAS,” he wrote via Instagram, in part.
Why Is Adidas Reviewing Their Partnership With Kanye West?
Per E! News, Adidas’ statement comes almost a month after West, who signed a deal with the company in 2013, took to Instagram to accuse the brand of copying his design. He also accused the franchise of not opening Yeezy stores, and also withholding major control over his products. The Bound 2 rapper also hinted that he would “leave” his deal with the brand and be compensated $2 billion in damages.
In September, West posted and then deleted an edited image of a New York Times front page via Instagram, that falsely declared that Adidas CEO Kasper Rorsted had died. He also shared photos of several of the company’s board members.
Later that month, the Mercy rapper revealed in a phone interview that he was planning to leave both Gap and Adidas to create his own mark in the industry.
“Now it’s time for Ye to make the new industry. No more companies standing in between me and the audience,” he declared in a phone interview on September 12.
