Image source, Getty Images
Adidas has dropped Palestinian model Bella Hadid from an ad campaign for retro shoes referencing the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Israel had criticized Hadid’s choice, accusing her of hostility toward Israel and recalling that 11 Israeli athletes were killed by Palestinian attackers during the Munich Games.
Adidas later apologized and said it would “review” its campaign.
Ms. Hadid is a staunch supporter of the Palestinians and donated this year to support relief efforts against the war in Gaza.
BBC News has contacted Hadid’s representatives for comment.
The German sportswear company chose Hadid to promote its SL72 sneakers, first launched for the 1972 Olympics.
Adidas recently relaunched the SL72 shoes as part of a series reviving the classic sneaker.
However, images of the American model wearing the shoes have drawn criticism, including on Israel’s official X account (formerly Twitter).
This is the attack that occurred during the 1972 Olympic Games, when members of the Palestinian group Black September broke into the Olympic Village. In addition to the Israeli athletes, a German policeman was also killed.
Other social media users defended Ms Hadid and called for a boycott of Adidas following the decision to pull the campaign.
Adidas confirmed to AFP that Hadid had been removed from the campaign.
In a statement provided to the news agency, the company said it would “review the remainder of the campaign” with immediate effect.
“We are aware that links have been made to tragic historical events – although these are entirely unintentional – and we apologise for any upset or distress caused.”
Hadid, whose father is Palestinian real estate tycoon Mohamed Anwar Hadid, has been vocal in her support for those affected by the war in Gaza.
In an Instagram post in May, Hadid said she was “devastated by the loss of the Palestinian people and the lack of empathy coming from government systems around the world.”
The Gaza conflict began when Hamas gunmen launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 252 hostage in Gaza.
Israel responded by launching a military campaign in Gaza aimed at destroying Hamas and freeing the hostages.
More than 38,900 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.
