New Delhi: Adidas announced that it has removed vocal pro-Palestinian model Bella Hadid from its advertising campaign for retro sneakers referencing the 1972 Munich Olympics, an event overshadowed by the massacre of Israeli athletes. Hadid, born in the US with Palestinian roots through her father, has been vocal about her support for Palestinian rights, particularly following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, which triggered the war in Gaza.
The German sportswear giant recently relaunched the SL72, a shoe first showcased by athletes at the 1972 Olympics, as part of a series reviving classic sneakers. The campaign faced backlash due to the tragic events of the 1972 Munich Games, where eleven Israeli athletes and a German police officer were killed by gunmen from the Palestinian Black September group.
According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), Adidas stated it would be “revising the remainder of the campaign” with immediate effect. “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,” the company said in a statement sent news agency AFP.
A spokeswoman confirmed that Hadid had been removed from the campaign, which highlights that the shoes were first introduced in 1972 but does not mention the attack on the Israeli athletes.
Pictures of Hadid wearing the retro Adidas shoes caused an outcry among pro-Israeli groups. The Israeli embassy in Germany criticized the choice of Hadid for the campaign, stating on X (formerly Twitter), “Guess who the face of the campaign is? Bella Hadid, a model with Palestinian roots who has spread anti-Semitism in the past and incited violence against Israelis and Jews.”
Why did Isarel Object to Bella Hadid Being the Face of the Campaign?
Bella Hadid’s father Mohamed Hadid is a Palestinian Real estate developer, she has previously criticized the Israeli government in several instances and also participated in public protests against them. Recently, Hadid has voiced out her solidarity and support for Palestine against the Israeli Movement after the latest tensions between Isarel and Palestine.
In October last year, Hadid posted on Instagram, expressing sorrow for the loss of innocent lives and urging her followers to press their leaders to take neccessary actions for civilians in Gaza.
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