circleWith the Olympics approaching, Adidas was running several campaigns to promote its products in the run up to the games in Paris.
One of the spots featured model Bella Hadid, but in a totally unexpected way.
The origins of Adidas’ feud with Bella Hadid
The German company cast the supermodel in an ad for its new Munich Olympics-inspired SL72 sneakers, and Israel’s official account was quick to criticize, expressing dissatisfaction that the commercial’s face was Bella Hadid, a known supporter of Palestine.
Israelis could not understand why Adidas was using supermodels to promote these shoes when “11 Israelis were killed by Palestinian terrorists during the Munich Olympics.”
Bella Hadid’s father is Palestinian, and the supermodel has never hidden her hostility towards the Israeli government since the conflict began.
He even went so far as to issue a statement on October 23 last year, the day of attacks in the Gaza Strip: “There is an urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza that must be addressed. Families need water and food. Hospitals need fuel to run generators, treat the wounded and keep people alive.”
But Adidas made a decision, announcing its decision to drop Bella Hadid just days before the start of the Olympics in a statement: “We are aware that a link to a tragic historical event, while wholly unintentional, has been made and we apologize for any upset or distress caused. We are currently reviewing the campaign.”
Bella Hadid announces lawsuit against Adidas
According to TMZ, supermodel Bella Hadid is not hesitating to hire a lawyer to take appropriate legal action against Adidas. Bella accuses the company of a “lack of public accountability.” The American site further reports that multiple sources have pointed out that Bella Hadid feels that the campaign against her is cruel and harmful.
