Adidas to donate Kanye West Yeezy profits to charity fighting antisemitism

nme.com:

Kanye West Yeezy shoes will benefit organisations fighting antisemitism.Last year, Adidas cut ties with West and his Yeezy brand after the rapper shared a string of hate-fuelled rants aimed at the Jewish community.“Ye’s recent comments and actions have been unacceptable, hateful and dangerous, and they violate the company’s values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and fairness,” said Adidas at the time.Earlier this month, Adidas’ CEO Bjørn Gulden said that the decision was “hurting” the business and revealed they would be selling the remaining stock [worth an estimated £960million], with proceeds set to be donated to the organisations “that help us and were harmed by what Ye said”.It’s now been confirmed that proceeds will go to “leading anti-hate organisation” The Anti-Defamation League which is the “global leader in combating antisemitism, countering extremism and battling bigotry wherever and whenever it happens”.The Philonise & Keeta Floyd Institute for Social Change, which was founded by George Floyd’s brother Philonise, will also receive money from the sale of Yeezys.

The organisation works “to eliminate the daily impacts of police brutality, criminal justice reform and systemic racism,” and was set-up following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police officers.At the end of last year, West claimed that Floyd’s death was caused by drugs before later apologising for the comments.According to Adidas, the company will partner with the Philonise & Keeta Floyd Institute For Social Change “to drive Community programs through sport and education, working together to leave a lasting legacy”.“After careful consideration, we have decided to begin releasing some of the remaining Adidas Yeezy products,” Gulden.