Adidas pulls ad with Bella Hadid after Israel called her antisemitic
Israel has criticized an Adidas campaign with Bella Hadid inspired by the 1972 Olympics, during which Palestinian militants killed 11 Israelis.
Adidas has withdrawn an advertising campaign featuring model Bella Hadid, a vocal supporter of Palestine, following criticism from Israel's official social media accounts, which labeled her as antisemitic. Hadid has openly advocated for Palestinians in Gaza, where thousands have died since Israel's military operations began after the October 7 Hamas attack. Both she and her sister, Gigi, have participated in protests, donated over $1 million to organizations aiding Palestinians, and condemned the violence against innocent civilians on both sides.
Despite the removal of Hadid's ads, the SL 72 shoes remain available for purchase on Adidas's website, where they are promoted as an "archival favorite" from the 1972 Munich Olympics. The company notes that the SL 72 shoes, introduced in 1972, transformed running for track and field athletes seeking enhanced speed and agility.
Israel also criticized the broader campaign, referencing the 1972 Munich Olympics where Palestinian militants killed 11 Israeli athletes and coaches. "Eleven Israelis were murdered by Palestinian terrorists during the Munich Olympics," Israel's foreign ministry's official account posted. "Guess who the face of their campaign is? Bella Hadid, a half-Palestinian model who has a history of spreading antisemitism and calling for violence against Israelis and Jews."
An Adidas spokesperson did not respond immediately to a request for comment from Business Insider. However, the company released a statement to CBS News, stating they are "revising the remainder of the campaign." They acknowledged unwanted associations with tragic historical events and expressed regret for any upset caused.
This isn’t the first occasion Hadid has drawn the ire of Israeli officials. In 2021, Israel accused her of promoting the “elimination of the Jewish State” when she participated in a pro-Palestinian march in New York and live-streamed the event. This march followed Israel launching over 1,000 airstrikes on Gaza, resulting in significant Palestinian casualties, including those in a building housing international news outlets.
A representative for Hadid did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. In a post from 2021, Hadid emphasized her commitment to advocating for Palestinians "with only love in my heart and an open mind," expressing pride in being a Palestinian girl featured on the cover of Vogue and vowing to continue highlighting the systematic oppression faced by Palestinians.
Despite the removal of Hadid's ads, the SL 72 shoes remain available for purchase on Adidas's website, where they are promoted as an "archival favorite" from the 1972 Munich Olympics. The company notes that the SL 72 shoes, introduced in 1972, transformed running for track and field athletes seeking enhanced speed and agility.
Israel also criticized the broader campaign, referencing the 1972 Munich Olympics where Palestinian militants killed 11 Israeli athletes and coaches. "Eleven Israelis were murdered by Palestinian terrorists during the Munich Olympics," Israel's foreign ministry's official account posted. "Guess who the face of their campaign is? Bella Hadid, a half-Palestinian model who has a history of spreading antisemitism and calling for violence against Israelis and Jews."
An Adidas spokesperson did not respond immediately to a request for comment from Business Insider. However, the company released a statement to CBS News, stating they are "revising the remainder of the campaign." They acknowledged unwanted associations with tragic historical events and expressed regret for any upset caused.
This isn’t the first occasion Hadid has drawn the ire of Israeli officials. In 2021, Israel accused her of promoting the “elimination of the Jewish State” when she participated in a pro-Palestinian march in New York and live-streamed the event. This march followed Israel launching over 1,000 airstrikes on Gaza, resulting in significant Palestinian casualties, including those in a building housing international news outlets.
A representative for Hadid did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. In a post from 2021, Hadid emphasized her commitment to advocating for Palestinians "with only love in my heart and an open mind," expressing pride in being a Palestinian girl featured on the cover of Vogue and vowing to continue highlighting the systematic oppression faced by Palestinians.