Kaylah Walton
The country of Israel criticizes Adidas for including Bella Hadid in their recent ad linked to the 1972 Munich Massacre, despite her views on Palestine.
Adidas introduced the shoe in 1972 before the Summer Olympic Games in Munich, Germany, where 11 Israelis were tragically killed by Islamist terrorists from Palestine.
Israel deems the advertisement insensitive for featuring Hadid, citing her alleged anti-Semitic views, support for violence against Israel, and Palestinian heritage.
“Adidas launched a new campaign for their shoes commemorating the 1972 Munich Olympics,” Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted on X.com. “Eleven Israelis were killed by Palestinian terrorists during the Munich Olympics.
“Guess who’s the face of their campaign? Bella Hadid, a model with Palestinian roots who has been accused of spreading anti-Semitism and advocating violence against Israelis and Jews. She and her father are known for endorsing anti-Semitic beliefs and conspiracies against Jews. @Adidas, any response?”
Israel Foreign Ministry criticizes shoe design
Hadid was featured in the ad wearing a white and black Adidas sports outfit with matching shorts and socks, holding a bouquet of red, pink, and white flowers to promote the SL 72 shoe model in light red.
The design, which includes deep red tones resembling blood, the iconic white stripes of the Adidas logo, white laces, and a blue interior, was also criticized by Israel’s Foreign Ministry for its lack of sensitivity.
The controversy surrounds the positioning of the shoes in the center of the ad, arranged vertically with the soles facing each other, leading Tammy Rahamimoff-Honig, Deputy Head of the Ministry, to suggest a possible reference to the triangles used by Hamas to mark Israeli targets.
“Could it be possible?” questioned Rahamimoff-Honig on X.com. “Is Adidas hinting at Hamas’ notorious red triangle symbolizing the massacre of Israelis/Jews?”
