Adidas sells final pairs of Kanye West’s Yeezy shoes

toxic work environment and had a history of displaying inappropriate materials to employees. The employees accused company leadership of turning a blind eye to West’s behavior because of the substantial profits he generated for the company.

Looking towards the future, Adidas made the decision to liquidate all remaining Yeezy inventory, with a portion of the profits being donated to the Anti-Defamation League and the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism. By the end of 2024, Adidas successfully sold off the remaining Yeezy stock, bringing in approximately $54 million in revenue for the fourth quarter of that year.

The end of Adidas’ partnership with Kanye West not only marked the sale of the last Yeezy shoe but also signified the conclusion of a nearly decade-long collaboration that had once been lucrative for both parties. When Adidas and West initially joined forces in 2013, the Yeezy line of footwear and apparel quickly became a cultural phenomenon, contributing to a significant increase in West’s net worth, estimated by Forbes to be $1.5 billion.

Unfortunately, this prosperous partnership took a turn for the worse in the fall of 2022 when West made headlines for debuting a controversial White Lives Matter T-shirt during his Yeezy runway show in Paris. His actions led to a series of antisemitic comments on social media, during which he expressed disturbing sentiments towards the Jewish community. Despite later issuing apologies for his remarks, West’s behavior continued to spiral downward, with his latest antics involving self-proclaimed Nazi affiliations and the sale of offensive merchandise.

In response to West’s controversial behavior, Adidas took a stand against hate speech and antisemitism, ultimately deciding to sever ties with the rapper, resulting in an estimated loss of around $250 million in 2022. This decision was based on the company’s values of diversity, inclusion, respect, and fairness, which West’s actions directly contradicted.

Following the split with West, former employees who had worked on the Yeezy line came forward with allegations of West’s inappropriate conduct, citing a toxic and chaotic work environment. They accused Adidas leadership of ignoring West’s problematic behavior for years due to the large sums of money he brought in, highlighting a lack of ethical standards within the company.

As Adidas moves forward from this chapter, the company remains committed to supporting causes that promote tolerance, understanding, and combatting hate. By donating a portion of the profits from the sale of the remaining Yeezy inventory to organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League and the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism, Adidas is taking steps to make a positive impact in the face of adversity.