About a week ago, fashion brand Adidas removed supermodel Bella Hadid from their latest campaign for their SL72 sports shoe after receiving backlash from the Israeli government due to the model being part Palestinian. The company later apologised for the 27-year-old’s involvement in the campaign, which was said to promote the shoe first released for the 1972 Munich Olympics, where the Munich massacre took place.
However, Adidas also faced criticism for removing Bella Hadid as fans accused the brand of siding with Zionists. It was only earlier today (30th July) when the celeb decided to finally speak out about what happened between her and the brand.
Taking to her Instagram Story, Bella Hadid addressed her removal from the Adidas campaign. The model apologised for not being aware of the tragedy that took place at the Olympic Village during the 1972 Munich Olympics saying that she wouldn’t have agreed to a project that is linked to a catastrophic event if she had known. “I am shocked, I am upset and I am disappointed in the lack of sensitivity that went into this campaign. Had I been made aware, from the bottom of my heart, I would never have participated,” she wrote.
For context, the Munich massacre was reported to have been a terrorist attack by Palestinian militants known as ‘Black September’ against the Israeli Olympic team. “I do not believe in hate in any form, including antisemitism. That will never waiver, and I stand by that statement to the fullest extent. Connecting the liberation of the Palestinian people to an attack so tragic is something that hurts my heart. Palestine is not synonymous with terrorism and this campaign unintentionally highlighted an event that does not present who we are,” she added.
Shortly after posting her IG Story, netizens online argued that Bella shouldn’t have to apologise in the first place. Some said that Adidas is supposed to be one to apologise for the insensitive campaign and their decision to remove the model. Others speculated that the brand purposely recruited Bella for the campaign, fully aware of the tragedy and her ethnic background to set her up, thus making themselves look good.
What do you think? Should Bella Hadid have apologised for the controversy?
