Current:Home > FinanceAdidas Apologizes for Bella Hadid Ad Campaign Referencing 1972 Munich Olympics -Wealth Evolution Experts
Adidas Apologizes for Bella Hadid Ad Campaign Referencing 1972 Munich Olympics
View
Date:2025-04-16 07:18:57
Adidas has issued an apology over a controversial campaign featuring Bella Hadid that paid tribute to the 1972 Munich Olympics.
This week, 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! (3245)
Related
- Tarte Shape Tape Concealer Sells Once Every 4 Seconds: Get 50% Off Before It's Gone
- When does summer start? Mark your calendars for the longest day of the year in 2024
- Nevada Supreme Court rulings hand setbacks to gun-right defenders and anti-abortion activists
- Netflix now has nearly 270 million subscribers after another strong showing to begin 2024
- Behind on your annual reading goal? Books under 200 pages to read before 2024 ends
- Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler will miss play-in game vs. Chicago Bulls with sprained knee
- Supreme Court to weigh whether bans targeting homeless encampments run afoul of the Constitution
- Jerrod Carmichael says he wants Dave Chappelle to focus his 'genius' on more than trans jokes
- Israel lets Palestinians go back to northern Gaza for first time in over a year as cease
- Judge hears testimony in man’s bid for a new trial for girl’s 1988 killing
Ranking
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- 2024 MLB mock draft: Where are Jac Caglianone, other top prospects predicted to go?
- 911 outages reported in 4 states as emergency call services go down temporarily
- United Arab Emirates struggles to recover after heaviest recorded rainfall ever hits desert nation
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- AL East champions' latest 'great dude' has arrived with Colton Cowser off to .400 start
- The Latest | Officials at Group of Seven meeting call for new sanctions against Iran
- Arrest made 7 years after off-duty D.C. police officer shot dead, girlfriend wounded while sitting in car in Baltimore
Recommendation
Nearly 400 USAID contract employees laid off in wake of Trump's 'stop work' order
The Daily Money: What's fueling the economy?
It's not just a patch: NBA selling out its LGBTQ referees with puzzling sponsorship deal
US deports about 50 Haitians to nation hit with gang violence, ending monthslong pause in flights
Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time
Police arrest protesters at Columbia University who had set up pro-Palestinian encampment
Pepsi Lime or Pepsi Peach? 2 limited-edition sodas to make debut in time for summer
Coalition to submit 900,000 signatures to put tough-on-crime initiative on California ballot