Adidas has launched an investigation into allegations of inappropriate conduct towards Ye, the rapper previously often known as Kanye West, the German athletic model introduced Thursday.
Adidas, which was considered one of a number of corporations to chop ties with Ye after the artist made a string of anti-Semitic feedback, stated it launched the probe after reviewing an nameless letter making allegations towards him.
“It’s at the moment not clear whether or not the accusations made in an nameless letter are true,” Adidas stated in an announcement. “Nonetheless, we take these allegations very critically and have taken the choice to launch an unbiased investigation of the matter instantly to deal with the allegations.”
The announcement comes after Rolling Stone journal detailed allegations of incidents of inappropriate conduct by Ye in direction of employees members and potential staff, together with accusations that the rapper had proven staff nude images of his ex-wife Kim Kardashian.
The journal reported that plenty of former staff had despatched an nameless letter to Adidas alleging that senior leaders on the firm had turned a “blind eye” to Ye’s conduct. NBC Information has not seen or independently verified the letter.
NBC Information was not instantly capable of attain representatives for Ye.
In its assertion, Adidas additionally famous its resolution final month to chop ties with Ye after his anti-Semitic remarks.
“Adidas doesn’t tolerate hate speech and offensive conduct and subsequently has terminated the adidas Yeezy partnership,” it stated. “We’ve got been and proceed to be actively engaged in conversations with our workers concerning the occasions that result in our resolution to finish the partnership. They’ve our full help and as we’re working by way of the small print of the termination.”
Balenciaga and distinguished expertise company CAA had been additionally among the many corporations to finish their relationships with Ye over his feedback.
Adidas joined within the resolution after social media customers started calling out the athletic model after an anti-Semitic hate group hung a banner over a Los Angeles freeway Saturday that learn “Kanye is correct concerning the Jews.” Native politicians, social media customers and different celebrities additionally denounced the incident.
Ye additionally noticed his Twitter and Instagram accounts briefly restricted after posting anti-Semitic messages.
Paperwork reviewed by NBC Information just lately confirmed that Ye additionally paid a settlement to a former worker who alleged that he had used anti-Semitic language within the office. In the meantime, a number of individuals who had labored with the rapper or witnessed him in skilled settings over the previous 5 years stated they’d heard him reward Adolf Hitler or point out conspiracy theories about Jewish folks.
