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Bella Hadid says she will always stand for Palestine and against antisemitism following Adidas controversy

Bella Hadid says she will always stand for Palestine and against antisemitism following Adidas controversy

The model issued a statement of her own after the brand apologised to her and pro-Israel groups.
30 Jul, 2024

After Adidas faced backlash from pro-Israel groups for featuring Bella Hadid in a campaign referencing the 1972 Munich Olympics without acknowledging the 11 Israelis killed by the Palestinian group Black September at the same event, the model has come out with a statement of her own.

In the ad, Hadid was featured wearing shoes inspired by the Adidas’ SL72 sneakers, which debuted in the 1972 Munich Olympics. In a lengthy Instagram story on Monday, the model said she would “never knowingly engage” in work linked to a “horrific tragedy.”

“I want to make sure you’re hearing directly from me about my recent campaign with Adidas,” she wrote. “I would never knowingly engage with any art or work that is linked to a horrific tragedy of any kind. In advance of the campaign’s release, I had no knowledge of the historical connection to the atrocious events in 1972. I am shocked, I am upset, and I am disappointed in the lack of sensitivity that went into this campaign.”

Hadid assured that she would “never have participated” in the Adidas campaign had she been educated about the attack.

“My team should have known, Adidas should have known and I should have done more research so that I too would have known and understood, and spoken up,” Hadid wrote. “As I always have, and always will, speak up for what I believe to be wrong. While everyone’s intentions were to make something positive, and bring people together through art, the collective lack of understanding from all parties undermined the process.

“I do not believe in hate in any form, including antisemitism,” she continued. “That will never waiver, and I stand by that statement to the fullest extent.”

Hadid also criticised the association for connecting the “liberation of the Palestinian people” to terrorism. “Palestine is not synonymous with terrorism and this campaign unintentionally highlighted an event that does not represent who we are,” Hadid wrote. “I am a proud Palestinian woman and there is so much more to our culture than the things that have been equated over the past week.

“I will forever stand by my people of Palestine while continuing to advocate for a world free of antisemitism. Antisemitism has no place in the liberation of the Palestinian people,” she continued. “I will always stand for peace over violence, any day. Hate has no place here, and I will forever advocate for my people and everyone worldwide.”

Earlier this summer, when the Adidas Originals campaign was unveiled, the American Jewish Committee quickly called the decision “a massive oversight or intentionally inflammatory,” describing the decision as unacceptable and calling for Adidas to address the incident.

The company pulled photos from the campaign online and shared an apology in mid-July “for any upset or distress caused” by it. “We are conscious that connections have been made to tragic historical events — though these are completely unintentional — and we apologise for any upset or distress caused,” the statement to USA Today read. “As a result, we are revising the remainder of the campaign.”

The brand later apologised to Hadid and other partners for any negative impact the controversy has had on their careers. “We made an unintentional mistake. We also apologise to our partners, Bella Hadid, A$AP Nast, Jules Koundé, and others, for any negative impact on them and we are revising the campaign.”

Comments

Taj Ahmad Jul 30, 2024 01:00pm
Great lady always stands for right things and injustice for all humanity. Peace for all humanity including peace loving Israelis as well as Palestinians.
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NYS Jul 30, 2024 01:42pm
Adidas apologized now what's next Bella
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Anzila soomro Jul 30, 2024 02:59pm
Bella is the great woman
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Free Palestine Jul 30, 2024 02:59pm
Love you Bella Hadid, you always stand for social injustice for all peace loving people around the world. Let’s go for peace and stand against hatred.
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rahman md aminur Jul 30, 2024 03:03pm
agree with Bella Hadid. hate is no solution.
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Laila Jul 30, 2024 06:11pm
Sadly most Pakistanis will miss that she also stands against antisemitism. She stands for humanity. Something most Pakistanis could learn from but won't because of our deeply indoctrinated anti semitism, anti Christian, anti hindu, anti [insert minority of your choice]. Bella's father is the same way. So it runs in their family and in history. It's possible to stand against an enemy without hating an entire people.
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Jul 30, 2024 06:22pm
United we stand, divided we fall.
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Masood Khan Jul 31, 2024 12:49am
Thank You Bella, you are a very brave and patriotic lady. I wish you could teach the same to some of the Pakistani actresses, models and leaders.
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Ijaz Chauhan Jul 31, 2024 08:20am
So much for a pious Palestinian that you are Bella. Wear proper Islamic attire and do not parade your body in front of the world. Thanks
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Hamid Ali Tabatabai Aug 01, 2024 01:39am
Beauty and Courage. What an amazing combo
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Laila Aug 04, 2024 08:48am
@IJAZ CHAUHAN She never claimed to be pious? There are many types of Muslims. Also, her Palestinian father or brother have no issue with how she dresses, so why do you? It's her life, so she will decide how she dresses and whether she wants to work as a model. She is an adult, after all. If you want to advise her, you can DM her directly.
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