Adidas Chief Executive Bjorn Gulden has apologized for latest remarks that appeared to downplay the intent behind rapper Kanye West’s antisemitic rants final yr, the pinnacle of the Anti-Defamation League mentioned Thursday in a publish on X.
Jonathan Greenblatt, the ADL’s chief government, mentioned in that publish that Gulden on Thursday morning “apologized for his misstatement & reiterated that Adidas is committed to fighting #antisemitism & is completely opposed to the ugly hate expressed by” West, who goes by Ye.
The publish from Greenblatt’s account was made after stories a day earlier describing a latest podcast interview wherein Gulden mentioned he didn’t consider West “meant what he said” following West’s antisemitic remarks that tanked Adidas’ almost decade-long relationship with the rap megastar final yr. The dissolution of the partnership left the sneaker-maker caught with some $1.3 billion value of Yeezy-brand sneakers and different gear.
The podcast interview — with Nicolai Tangen, chief government of Norges Bank Investment Management — appeared on-line final week. Gulden, in that interview, instructed Tangen that West’s remarks weren’t “good.” He then mentioned that the ending of the connection, and the withdrawal of the Yeezy-brand merchandise, have been “very unfortunate because I don’t think he meant what he said and I don’t think he’s a bad person. It just came across that way.”
An ADL consultant, through e-mail, confirmed {that a} assembly between Gulden and Greenblatt occurred. But the group declined to supply extra info in response to questions on who initially reached out to begin the dialog or particulars about what was mentioned.
Adidas
ADDYY,
when reached, mentioned it had “been in touch with our partners at the ADL.” The firm additionally declined to supply extra element.
“Our decision to end our partnership with Ye because of his unacceptable comments and behavior was absolutely the right one,” Adidas mentioned in a press release. “Our stance has not changed: Hate of any kind has no place in sports or society, and we remain committed to fighting it.”
Adidas in May mentioned that it might dump its remaining stockpiles of Yeezy sneakers, with the cash going to charity. The firm’s executives, throughout Adidas’ quarterly earnings name final month, mentioned that the efforts to dump the Yeezy gear introduced in round $437 million throughout that interval.
Shares of Adidas fell 2.7% on Thursday.
Source web site: www.marketwatch.com
