Supermodel Bella Hadid has reportedly hired lawyers to pursue legal action against Adidas following the sportswear giant’s decision to cancel an ad campaign featuring her. The controversy stems from an advertisement for the “SL72” trainers, which were inspired by a design from the 1972 Munich Olympics.
According to sources close to the situation, Hadid, 27, is taking this step in response to what she perceives as Adidas’s lack of accountability in launching a campaign that has been deemed insensitive. The ad drew criticism for its association with the tragic events that occurred during the 1972 Munich Olympics, where 11 Israeli athletes and coaches were killed by Palestinian militants.
Adidas faced backlash for featuring Hadid, who is of Palestinian heritage, in the campaign. The company subsequently apologized and announced it would revise the remainder of the campaign, stating that any connections made to historical events were unintentional.
“We are conscious that connections have been made to tragic historical events — though these are completely unintentional — and we apologize for any upset or distress caused,” the company said.
Israel’s official social media accounts condemned both the advertisement and Hadid’s involvement, while the American Jewish Committee called for Adidas to address what they termed an “egregious error.”
Bella Hadid, who is known for her support of Palestinian rights, has not yet made a public statement regarding the controversy. However, her legal team is reportedly preparing to take action against Adidas for what they describe as a “thoughtless, cruel and damaging” campaign that could associate individuals with the violence that occurred at the 1972 Munich Games.