Current:Home > Contact-usAdidas apologizes for using Bella Hadid in 1972 Munich Olympic shoe ad-LoTradeCoin
Adidas apologizes for using Bella Hadid in 1972 Munich Olympic shoe ad
View Date:2024-12-23 18:44:29
Adidas is apologizing for "any upset or distress caused" by including Palestinian supermodel Bella Hadid in advertisements for its 1972 Munich Olympic sneaker relaunch.
The sports apparel company selected Hadid as the face of its recently-launched SL72 campaign, which celebrates the 52nd anniversary of the Munich Olympics with the revival of Adidas' "coveted classic" sneaker from the 70s. The 1972 Olympics in Munich, however, were overshadowed by a terrorist attack that left 11 Israeli athletes and one German police officer dead at the hands of a Palestinian militant group amid the Israeli-Palestine conflict.
Hadid, whose father is Palestinian, identifies as a "proud Palestinian."
“We are conscious that connections have been made to tragic historical events — though these are completely unintentional — and we apologize for any upset or distress caused,” Adidas said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports on Thursday. “As a result, we are revising the remainder of the campaign. We believe in sport as a unifying force around the world and will continue our efforts to champion diversity and equality in everything we do.”
Adidas' SL72 advertisements feature an Adidas-clad Hadid holding flowers, while showing off her sneakers. "Giving Bella Hadid her flowers in the SL 72," read a tweet from Adidas Originals. But after the company issued an apology and promised to revise the campaign, all tweets featuring Hadid were scrubbed from Adidas Originals' X account and Instagram. Hadid is still featured on Adidas' website, as of Thursday afternoon.
Meet Team USA: See which athletes made the U.S. Olympic team and where they are from
The American Jewish Committee called on Adidas to address the "egregious error."
"At the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, 12 Israelis were murdered and taken hostage by Palestinian terrorist group Black September. For Adidas to pick a vocal anti-Israel model to recall this dark Olympics is either a massive oversight or intentionally inflammatory. Neither is acceptable," the AJC wrote on X Thursday.
Hadid is a vocal supporter of Palestine and frequently uses her platform to speak out against Palestinians impacted by the Israeli-Palestine conflict. She marched against former President Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital in December 2017, writing at the time, "The TREATMENT of the Palestinian people is unfair, one-sided and should not be tolerated. I stand with Palestine." Last month, Hadid and her sister, fellow supermodel Gigi Hadid, donated $1 million to Palestinian relief efforts, according to BBC.
Soccer player Jules Koundé, rapper A$AP Nast, musician Melissa Bon and model Sabrina Lan are also featured in the campaign, and all remain on Adidas' various social media accounts.
veryGood! (9)
Related
- NFL MVP rankings: Does Steelers QB Russell Wilson deserve any consideration?
- Jane's Addiction cancels rest of tour after Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro fight
- Trump was on the links taking a breather from the campaign. Then the Secret Service saw a rifle
- Isiah Pacheco injury update: Chiefs RB leaves stadium on crutches after hurting ankle
- It's cozy gaming season! Video game updates you may have missed, including Stardew Valley
- Giants' Heliot Ramos becomes first right-handed batter to hit homer into McCovey Cove
- Henry Winkler and Ron Howard stage 'Happy Days' reunion at Emmys for 50th anniversary
- Tell Me Lies’ Grace Van Patten Shares Rare Insight Into Romance With Costar Jackson White
- Why Kathy Bates Decided Against Reconstruction Surgery After Double Mastectomy for Breast Cancer
- All the songs Charli XCX and Troye Sivan sing on the Sweat tour: Setlist
Ranking
- 2025 Medicare Part B premium increase outpaces both Social Security COLA and inflation
- America’s Got Talent Alum Emily Gold Dead at 17
- After a mission of firsts, SpaceX Polaris Dawn crew returns safely to Earth
- 'Hacks' star's mom and former SNL cast member slams 'The Bear,' says it's not a comedy
- Democrat Cleo Fields wins re-drawn Louisiana congressional district, flipping red seat blue
- Michaela Mabinty DePrince's Mom Elaine DePrince Died 24 Hours After the Ballerina
- Texas lawmakers question agency’s ability to oversee $5 billion energy loan program after glitch
- Renowned Alabama artist Fred Nall Hollis dies at 76
Recommendation
-
Mike Tyson employs two trainers who 'work like a dream team' as Jake Paul fight nears
-
Here's What Artem Chigvintsev Is Seeking in Nikki Garcia Divorce
-
Suspicious packages sent to election officials in at least 5 states
-
Postal Service insists it’s ready for a flood of mail-in ballots
-
Will Trump’s hush money conviction stand? A judge will rule on the president-elect’s immunity claim
-
Apple is launching new AI features. What do they mean for your privacy?
-
Thousands in California’s jails have the right to vote — but here’s why many won’t
-
Suspicious packages sent to election officials in at least 5 states