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Petition calls on Adidas to cut ties with Kanye West
By Andy Malt | Published on Thursday 3 May 2018
A petition has been launched calling on Adidas to end its partnership with Kanye West on his Yeezy fashion brand, following the rapper’s controversial comments on slavery earlier this week.
During an interview on TMZ Live, West said that the fact African slavery in the US had lasted for 400 years made it sound “like a choice” on the part of the slaves.
West moved his Yeezy brand to Adidas in 2013, but now, the petition suggests, the “company may wish to rethink their lucrative deal with West after his jaw-dropping outburst”.
“For most Americans, no matter what colour you are, Kanye’s diatribe on slavery was the last straw”, says the petition. “As many in the media have pointed out, West’s words are not only wrong, they are dangerous”.
Noting increased tensions in the US under the presidency of Donald Trump – who West has repeatedly stated his support for in recent weeks – it adds: “While Kanye can live safely in his multi-million dollar castle, the rest of black America is continually marginalised and subject to unjust laws and treatment. Some even die because this behaviour is so ingrained in our society”.
So far, around 3500 people have signed the petition. Adidas has not as yet responded.