More than 75,000 people have signed a petition asking for Adidas to end its partnership with Kanye West after his recent antisemitic comments online.
West recently tweeted that he was going to go "death con 3 on Jewish people, adding: “The funny thing is I actually can’t be Anti Semitic [sic] because black people are actually Jew also.
“You guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball anyone whoever opposes your agenda.”
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Whilst he later gave what can almost be described as an apology to Piers Morgan on Talk TV, the calls for Adidas to end its relationship with Ye – as he’s now known – have only grown louder.
Speaking with Morgan last week, the musician said: “I will say I’m sorry for the people that I hurt with the ‘Death Con’ — the confusion that I caused.
“I feel like I caused hurt and confusion and I’m sorry for the families of the people that had nothing to do with the trauma that I have been through, and that I used my platform, where you say hurt people hurt people, and I was hurt.”
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He added: “It’s wrong to hold an apology hostage. I gotta let go of that and free myself of the trauma and say, ‘look, I’m just gonna give it all up to God right now,' and say to those families that I hurt, I really wanna give you guys a big hug and I’m sorry for hurting you with my comments.”
Despite his comments, more than 75,000 people have signed a petition calling for Adidas give Ye the boot.
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That petition reads: “By continuing to align itself with a public figure who has revealed himself to be a virulent antisemite, Adidas would be demonstrating that it does not care about racism against Jews.
“Ye has said: ‘The thing about me and Adidas is like, I can literally say antisemitic s*** and they can’t drop me. I can say antisemitic things and Adidas can’t drop me. Now what?’
“Adidas must answer Ye’s question. It must denounce antisemitism and end its partnership with Ye.
“Ye has posted brazen antisemitic statements in the past month on social media.”
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The petition then lists many of Kanye’s recent comments, before concluding: “Adidas must denounce antisemitism and end its partnership with Ye.”
So far, there has been no word from the German clothing brand.
Following Ye’s latest inflammatory comments, a group of people were spotted standing on a bridge in Los Angeles performing what appeared to be Nazi salutes and holding a banner that said ‘Kanye is right about the Jews’ and ‘honk if you know’.
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The stunt has further added to calls for Kanye to be removed by Adidas.
On Twitter, one person wrote: "A Nazi salute paired with 'Kanye is right about the Jews. in Los Angeles. Is this on brand Adidas?"
Another said: "Not only has Adidas remained silent on Ye’s antisemitism, even as hate groups celebrate his dangerous rhetoric, they doubled down on their relationship, scheduling the release of new Kanye products.
“We must keep pressure on Adidas to run away from hate."
UNILAD has contacted representatives for Adidas and Kanye West for a comment.
Topics: US News, Fashion, Kanye West, Music, Celebrity
Tom Wood