United States model Bella Hadid has addressed the controversy surrounding an Adidas campaign she was featured in, which faced backlash for what the brand described as “unintentional” associations with the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Hadid, who has Palestinian heritage, expressed her shock, upset, and disappointment over the campaign’s lack of sensitivity.
The advertising campaign, promoting the retro SL72 sneakers, inadvertently referenced the 1972 Munich Olympics, where 11 Israeli athletes and a German police officer were killed by the Palestinian group Black September.
Adidas later apologised and stated that they would “revise” the campaign, confirming to AFP that Hadid would be removed from it.
Hadid, 27, known for her support of Palestinian causes, had previously donated relief efforts for Gaza earlier this year.
She clarified in an Instagram story statement that she would never knowingly participate in any project connected to such a tragic event.
Hadid emphasised that she was unaware of the historical link to the 1972 tragedy before the campaign’s release.
NANCY MBAMALU
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