Adidas Faces Lawsuit from Investors over Kanye West Partnership

Adidas AG is being sued by its own investors over the company's partnership deal with American rapper Kanye West, also known as "Ye." The investors claim that the German sneaker and apparel manufacturer was aware of West's behavior but still chose to collaborate with him.

The investors explained that Adidas already knew about the risks of teaming up with West but pushed through with the partnership that later on went sour. The company cut ties with the artist this year for his controversial actions and behaviors.

In the lawsuit filed on Friday, April 28, at a federal court in Oregon, the investors said Adidas knew from the start that West had problematic behavior and yet failed to take precautionary measures to curb financial losses in case the partnership ended.

The plaintiffs cited a report published by The Wall Street Journal, which stated that as far back as 2018, Adidas executives had a discussion about the risks of continuing its partnership with West. They also claimed that Adidas failed to report that West made antisemitic remarks in front of the company's own staff.

In response to the lawsuit, Adidas' vice president of external communication, Claudia Lange, said in an email, "We outright reject these unfounded claims and will take all necessary measures to vigorously defend ourselves against them."

Adidas cut ties with Kanye West in October 2022 after he made antisemitic comments on social media and in media interviews. The company said that the rapper's remarks were "unacceptable, hateful, and dangerous," and thus, it could no longer work with him.

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