Adidas Drops Bella Hadid Campaign Amid Israeli Backlash

Adidas has withdrawn supermodel Bella Hadid from an advertising campaign for retro shoes following criticism from Israel. The German sportswear giant had chosen Hadid, who is half-Palestinian, to promote its SL72 trainers, initially launched to coincide with the 1972 Munich Olympics. This decision sparked controversy due to the historical significance of the 1972 Munich Games, where 11 Israeli athletes were killed by Palestinian attackers.

Israel condemned the choice of Hadid, accusing her of hostility towards Israel and highlighting her vocal support for Palestinian causes. In response, Adidas issued an apology and announced plans to revise the campaign.

Bella Hadid has been an outspoken advocate for Palestinians and recently donated to relief efforts in Gaza. Adidas confirmed to AFP that Hadid had been removed from the campaign and stated it would be “revising the remainder of the campaign” immediately. The company expressed regret for any distress caused by unintended connections to tragic historical events.

Hadid, whose father is Palestinian property tycoon Mohamed Anwar Hadid, has publicly supported those affected by the conflict in Gaza. She and her sister Gigi recently donated $1 million to Palestinian relief efforts. The ongoing conflict in Gaza began with an unprecedented attack by Hamas gunmen on Israel, leading to significant casualties and a subsequent military campaign by Israel aimed at destroying Hamas and freeing hostages.