LATEST NEWS
Why was Bella Hadid dropped by Adidas for their latest advertisement?
The model was dropped by the sportswear brand for their upcoming Munich 72 shoe.
Sportswear brand Adidas have dropped images of the model Bella Hadid from adverts promoting a shoe launched to coincide with the 1972 Munich Olympic Games.
The decision comes after Israel criticised the brand for using Hadid, who has Palestinian roots. Adidas said they were “revising” their campaign.
Hadid, 27, is Palestinian-American and has been an advocate for Palestinian relief efforts in the ongoing attacks that are causing huge numbers of civilian casualties in the region. In October last year, Hadid wrote on Instagram: “My heart is bleeding with pain from the trauma I am seeing unfold, as well as the generational trauma of my Palestinian blood.” She has also, along with her sister, Gigi, donated large amounts of money to the cause.
Adidas apologises - why was Hadid cancelled?
On their official Twitter account, Israel posted “@Adidas recently launched a new campaign for their shoes to highlight the 1972 Munich Olympics. Eleven Israelis were murdered by Palestinian terrorists during the Munich Olympics. Guess who the face of their campaign is? Bella Hadid, a half-Palestinian model who has a history of spreading antisemitism and calling for violence against Israelis and Jews. She and her father frequently promote blood libels and antisemitic conspiracies against Jews. @Adidas, any comment?”
Adidas responded officially after dropping the model, saying “We are conscious that connections have been made to tragic historical events – though these are completely unintentional – and we apologise for any upset or distress caused. As a result, we are revising the remainder of the campaign.”
Adidas added that they were set to continue the SL72 campaign with French footballer Jules Koundé, the US rapper A$AP Nast and the Chinese model Sabrina Lan.
According to the BBC, more than 38,900 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel responded to the October 7 attacks from Hamas. Last year, along with Bella Hadid, stars such as Bradley Cooper, Selena Gomez, Dua Lipa, Jennifer Lopez, Jenna Ortega, Joaquin Phoenix and Mark Ruffalo were among the more than 300 people who signed a letter addressed to Joe Biden, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.