By Bella Hadid has responded to the backlash surrounding her involvement in a recent Adidas campaign. The campaign, which honored the 1972 Munich Olympic Games and relaunched the SL72 sneaker, faced criticism due to its connection to the tragic events of the 1972 Olympics, where a Palestinian terrorist group killed 11 Israeli athletes and coaches.
Hadid, who identifies as Palestinian and advocates for Palestinian causes, expressed her disappointment with Adidas and clarified that she was unaware of the historical context before participating in the campaign. She stated that she would never knowingly engage in work linked to such a tragedy and emphasized her commitment to fighting antisemitism and promoting peace.
Adidas has since apologized for the campaign and pulled the related ads. The company acknowledged the unintentional connections to the tragic events and pledged to revise the remainder of the campaign. They reiterated their commitment to diversity, equality, and using sport as a unifying force.
Hadid’s response comes shortly after she celebrated six months of sobriety and continues to advocate for a world free of hate and violence.
