Adidas faces controversy: Withdraws Bella Hadid campaign after her public support for Palestine

Adidas drops Bella Hadid from campaign following criticism from Israel, sparking controversy.

In an unexpected turn of events, Adidas has decided to remove supermodel Bella Hadid, known for her Palestinian heritage, from its recent advertising campaign. The campaign, which promoted the retro SL72 sneakers, was launched to celebrate the legacy of the 1972 Munich Olympics. However, Hadid’s involvement provoked criticism from Israel, which recalled the massacre of eleven Israeli athletes by Palestinian attackers during those games.

Adidas’s decision comes after public figures and the Israeli government accused Hadid of being hostile towards Israel, citing her well-known stances in support of Palestine. The model has frequently used her platform to advocate for Palestinian rights, even donating one million dollars for aid efforts in Gaza alongside her sister Gigi.

This move by Adidas has generated a wave of reactions on social media. Some users have expressed support for Hadid, while others have called for a boycott of the sports brand. In response, Adidas publicly apologized and announced that it would review its campaign to avoid unintended associations with tragic historical events. This situation highlights the complexity of mixing politics and marketing and raises questions about the responsibility of global brands in handling such sensitive issues.