World
Kanye no longer a Billionaire after Adidas cans Yeezy deal
The disgraced rapper is set to lose a huge chunk of wealth after his antisemitic remarks
October 27, 2022 14:42
The disgraced rapper is set to lose a huge chunk of wealth after his antisemitic remarks
October 27, 2022 14:42Kanye West’s antisemitic remarks have cost him his billionaire status after Adidas dropped him this week.
Three-quarters of Mr West’s estimated fortune was attributable to his $1.5 billion deal with the German sports brand, which Adidas ended on Tuesday.
“Adidas does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech. [His] recent comments and actions have been unacceptable, hateful and dangerous,” it said.
All production of Yeezy products would stop immediately along with “all payments to Ye [formerly known as Kanye West] and his companies,” said the sportswear giant.
Earlier this month, the rapper appeared on the Drink Champs podcast where he said: “The thing about it being Adidas is like, I can literally say antisemitic s**t and they cannot drop me.”
His campaign of hate began this month when he tweeted an apparent death threat to Jews: “I’m a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up I’m going death con 3 on Jewish people. The funny thing is I actually can’t be antisemitic because black people are actually Jew also. You guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball anyone whoever opposes your agenda.”
Balenciaga and Gap have already cut ties with Mr West, who has also been dropped by the Creative Artist Agency. He has also been suspended from Instagram and Twitter but he continues to post on the “free speech” social media app Parler.
Meanwhile, celebrities around the world have come together to take a stand against the rap star who said this week that the “Jewish underground media mafia” had turned their back on him. On Tuesday, many members of the Kardashian family tweeted their support for the Jewish people and singer Boy George told the JC that musicians should denounce the disgraced rapper.
Jewish-American media mogul Ari Emmanuel said: “Those who continue to do business with West are giving his misguided hate an audience.”