Adidas and Kanye West Reach Settlement, Closing Years of Legal Disputes Over Yeezy Brand
Adidas and Kanye West, now known as Ye, have reached an out-of-court settlement, officially ending a prolonged legal standoff that began after the sportswear giant severed ties with the rapper over antisemitic remarks he made in 2022. The announcement marks the conclusion of lawsuits spanning nearly two years.
The former partnership, which produced the widely popular Yeezy line of footwear, came to a halt following comments from West that Adidas deemed incompatible with its values. As a result, Adidas was left with a substantial stockpile of unsold Yeezy sneakers, which had previously been among its best-selling products.
In a statement, Adidas CEO Bjorn Gulden confirmed the resolution, emphasizing that there are “no more open issues” and that no monetary compensation will exchange hands between the two parties. Both sides, he noted, “realized they no longer needed to fight and withdrew all claims.” However, he refrained from sharing additional details of the agreement.
Despite the partnership’s dissolution, the Yeezy brand has maintained high demand, particularly on the resale market, where the shoes often fetch premium prices. In response to initial consumer demand, Adidas announced last year that proceeds from the sale of remaining Yeezy inventory would be allocated to charity, with organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League, the Philonise & Keeta Floyd Institute for Social Change, and the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism among the beneficiaries.
The fallout began in October 2022 after Ye made inflammatory comments about the Jewish community, drawing backlash not only from the public but also from his former spouse, Kim Kardashian, who condemned hate speech. At the time, Adidas said that Ye’s remarks were “unacceptable, hateful, and dangerous,” conflicting with the company’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, and mutual respect.
