Kaylah Walton
With the upcoming Olympic Games in sight, Adidas was gearing up for various promotional activities concerning its products for the Paris event. One of these initiatives involved the participation of model Bella Hadid in a rather unexpected manner.
The Genesis of the Adidas and Bella Hadid Dispute
The German brand selected the supermodel to endorse its new SL72 sneakers, inspired by the Munich Olympics. However, Israel’s official representatives expressed dissatisfaction and condemned the choice of Bella Hadid as the face of this campaign due to her vocal support for Palestine.
Israel questioned Adidas’s decision to associate the supermodel with the promotion of these shoes, particularly in light of the history surrounding the Munich Olympics where “11 Israelis were killed by Palestinian terrorists”.
Bella Hadid’s father hails from Palestine, and she has consistently expressed her disapproval of the Israeli government’s actions since the conflict emerged.
She even issued a statement on October 23rd during an incident in the Gaza region, highlighting the urgent humanitarian crisis and the crucial needs of the affected families and hospitals.
Despite this, Adidas has decided to sever ties with Bella Hadid. In a statement, they acknowledged the inadvertent ties to tragic historical events and expressed regret for any distress caused. The brand also mentioned a campaign review.
Legal Action by Bella Hadid against Adidas
The supermodel has swiftly engaged legal representation to challenge Adidas, holding them accountable for their perceived lack of public responsibility. According to TMZ, Bella Hadid believes the campaign against her is severe and detrimental.
