ADIDAS CRITICISED FOR REVISING BELLA HADID CAMPAIGN AMID MUNICH OLYMPICS CONTROVERSY

Sat 20 July 2024:

Global sporting giant, Adidas, has issued an apology following the backlash over an advertisement featuring Palestinian-American model Bella Hadid wearing a redesigned shoe inspired by the 1972 Munich Olympics.

The sports apparel company chose Hadid as the face of its newly launched SL72 campaign, which commemorates the 52nd anniversary of the Munich Olympics by reviving Adidas’ “coveted classic” sneaker from the 1970s.

The cult trainer was originally designed for runners in the Munich Olympics, where 12 Israeli coaches and athletes were killed.

Adidas spokesperson Stefan Pursche addressed the controversy yesterday, stating: “We are conscious that connections have been made to tragic historical events – though these are completely unintentional – and we apologise for any upset or distress caused.”

“As a result we are revising the remainder of the campaign. We believe in sport as a unifying force around the world and will continue our efforts to champion diversity and equality in everything we do.”

The supermodel, whose father Mohamed Hadid is from Palestine, has long been vocal about her support for her homeland. Last month, she and her sister Gigi Hadid, donated $1 million to support Palestinian relief efforts in Israel’s ongoing war against Gaza.

Social media users have criticised the move to “revise” the campaign, noting that Hadid has nothing to do with the 1972 attack.

Journalist Mehdi Hasan slammed Jonathan Greenblatt, national director and CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, for his tweet criticising Adidas, stating: “Jonathan, this is straight-up anti-Palestinian racism & bigotry. Bella Hadid has absolutely nothing in common with the 1972 terrorists – other than the fact that she is Palestinian! Blaming people for the crimes of others who share their race or ethnicity is pure racism & bigotry.”

Jonathan, this is straight-up anti-Palestinian racism & bigotry. Bella Hadid has absolutely nothing in common with the 1972 terrorists – other than the fact that she is Palestinian! Blaming people for the crimes of others who share their race or ethnicity is pure racism & bigotry https://t.co/A1krCcsSXB

— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) July 19, 2024

Another user wrote: “Adidas just deleted Bella Hadid’s campaign because they chose to believe the boldface lies Israel says about her simply because she’s Palestinian instead of standing up for her. Shame on both of them & the Zionists that support their actions of silencing Bella and her people.”

adidas just deleted bella hadid’s campaign because they chose to believe the boldface lies israel say about her simply because she’s palestinian instead of standing up for her. shame on both of them & the zionists that supports their actions of silencing bella and her people. https://t.co/IGLVHGX67B pic.twitter.com/pHs1oeWQGV

— ⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡ (@HE4VENZONE) July 18, 2024

Additionally, multiple X users noted the backlash is very revealing as it proves that Israelis just reflexively believe all Palestinians are terrorists. “Doesn’t matter that Bella Hadid was born 25 years after the 1972 Olympics, she’s responsible for what happened simply because she’s Palestinian,” one user wrote.

This hissy fit is actually very revealing because it proves that Israelis just reflexively believe all Palestinians are terrorists. Doesn’t matter that Bella Hadid was born 25 years after the 1972 Olympics, she’s responsible for what happened simply because she’s Palestinian. pic.twitter.com/G1ALlT8aPa

— Tariq Kenney-Shawa (@tksshawa) July 19, 2024

Some used the announcement as an opportunity to call for Israel to be banned from the Olympics, as Israel’s war on Gaza continues, devastating the enclave and destroying entire neighbourhoods.

More than 38,800 Palestinians have been killed in the enclave since October, mostly women and children, and over 89,400 injured, according to local health authorities.

Last week, Shadi Abu-Alarraj, a well-known goalkeeper from Khan Yunis, was killed in Israel’s attack on Al-Mawasi, according to local Palestinian media.

Moreover, an 11-year-old boy, identified as Yazan Al-Sarsawi, was killed by Israeli fire with a direct shot to the head during an Israeli onslaught in Shuja’iyya, east of Gaza City, earlier this month.

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Hadid, who repeatedly faces attacks by Israeli supporters on social media due to her support of the Palestinian cause, has 59.4 million followers on Instagram, and hundreds of thousands on other social media sites.

Her posts mention frequently how her father and his family were expelled from their homes in Palestine in 1948, and became refugees in Syria, Lebanon and then Tunisia, before ending up in the United States.

-MEMO

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