Current:Home > reviewsCharles Langston:Adidas Apologizes for Bella Hadid Ad Campaign Referencing 1972 Munich Olympics -Zenith Investment School
Charles Langston:Adidas Apologizes for Bella Hadid Ad Campaign Referencing 1972 Munich Olympics
TrendPulse View
Date:2025-04-07 08:03:15
Adidas has issued an apology over a controversial campaign featuring Bella Hadid that paid tribute to the 1972 Munich Olympics.
This week,Charles Langston the footwear brand shared ads showing the supermodel—whose father Mohamed Hadid is Palestinian—wearing retro red SL72 sneakers commemorating the games, during which gunmen from the Palestinian militant group Black September raided the Olympic Village and killed 11 members of the Israeli team, with nine murdered after being held hostage.
While the campaign also featured celebs such as soccer star Jules Koundé, the ads with Bella sparked an online backlash that included calls to boycott the German company, as well as condemnation from Israel's official X account. All the promotional photos were then removed from the brand's social media and its website.
“We are conscious that connections have been made to tragic historical event—though these are completely unintentional—and we apologize for any upset or distress caused," Adidas said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports July 18. “As a result, we are revising the remainder of the campaign."
The company added, "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."
Hadid, who was born in the United States and calls herself a "proud Palestinian," has long been vocal in her support for the Palestinian people on social media.
The 27-year-old has often spoken out against Israel's ongoing military action in Gaza, which has killed more than 38,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, per NBC News.
Israel began its offensive after Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages in a cross-border raid into Israel Oct. 7, according to Israeli tallies.
Hadid has not commented on the removal of the ads. E! News has reached out to her rep and has not heard back.
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (31357)
Related
- Intel's stock did something it hasn't done since 2022
- Clear Your Pores With a $9 Bubble Face Mask That’s a TikTok Favorite and Works in 5 Minutes
- Republican attorneys general issue warning letter to Target about Pride merchandise
- Andy Cohen Reveals the Raquel Leviss Moment That Got Cut From Vanderpump Rules' Reunion
- Toyota to invest $922 million to build a new paint facility at its Kentucky complex
- Senators reflect on impact of first major bipartisan gun legislation in nearly 30 years
- Clear Your Pores With a $9 Bubble Face Mask That’s a TikTok Favorite and Works in 5 Minutes
- U.S. saw 26 mass shootings in first 5 days of July alone, Gun Violence Archive says
- US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
- Musk asks in poll if he should step down as Twitter CEO; users vote yes
Ranking
- 'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
- Justice Department asks court to pause order limiting Biden administration's contacts with social media companies
- Washington Commits to 100% Clean Energy and Other States May Follow Suit
- Hiring cools as employers added 209,000 jobs in June
- The FTC says 'gamified' online job scams by WhatsApp and text on the rise. What to know.
- Nordstrom Rack 62% Off Handbag Deals: Kate Spade, Béis, Marc Jacobs, Longchamp, and More
- Starbucks workers plan a 3-day walkout at 100 U.S. stores in a unionization effort
- H&M's 60% Off Summer Sale Has Hundreds of Trendy Styles Starting at $4
Recommendation
Small twin
Inside Chris Evans' Private Romance With Alba Baptista
From the Heart of Coal Country, Competing Visions for the Future of Energy
These could be some of the reasons DeSantis hasn't announced a presidential run (yet)
Where will Elmo go? HBO moves away from 'Sesame Street'
Elon Musk reinstates suspended journalists on Twitter after backlash
Pentagon to tighten oversight of handling classified information in wake of leaks
RHONJ: Teresa Giudice and Joe Gorga Share Final Words Before Vowing to Never Speak Again