BELLA HADID STATEMENT ABOUT THE ADIDAS CAMPAIGN

adidas

This campaign, which drew inspiration from the 1972 Munich Olympics, has been met with significant backlash, prompting Hadid to publicly respond on Instagram.

The campaign was launched earlier this month and featured a significant promotional event in New York City’s Times Square. The launch coincided with the 52nd anniversary of the Munich Games, a tragic event where 11 Israeli athletes and coaches were brutally killed by the Palestinian terrorist group, Black September. The campaign was criticized for its insensitivity towards the tragic events of 1972, especially since it made no mention of them. This insensitivity sparked a response from Israel and the pro-Israel American Jewish Committee, who condemned Hadid’s involvement in the campaign due to her vocal support for relief efforts for Palestinians in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas War.

In response to the controversy, Hadid shared a heartfelt message on her Instagram Story. She expressed her shock and disappointment at the lack of sensitivity shown in the campaign and stated that she was unaware of the campaign’s historical connection to the horrific events of 1972 prior to its release. Hadid emphasized that she would never knowingly participate in any work associated with such a tragedy. She also acknowledged that more research should have been conducted by all parties involved, including herself, her team, and the adidas team.

Hadid reaffirmed her commitment to speaking out against what she believes is wrong and expressed her belief in peace and unity. She stated that while the intention of the campaign was to create something positive and unite people through art, the collective lack of understanding from all parties undermined this process. She firmly stated her opposition to hate in any form, including antisemitism, and expressed her support for the liberation of the Palestinian people.

In her statement, Hadid clarified that being Palestinian does not equate to being a terrorist and that the campaign unintentionally highlighted an event that does not represent the Palestinian people. She concluded her post by expressing her pride in being a Palestinian woman and her commitment to advocating for a world free of antisemitism. She emphasized that antisemitism has no place in the liberation of the Palestinian people and that she will always stand for peace over violence.

Following the controversy, adidas announced that they are revising the campaign. There have been reports that Hadid is considering legal action against adidas for their lack of accountability, but it remains uncertain whether these reports have progressed.