In a series of Instagram posts and a video on Monday, Kanye West, launched accusations against his former footwear collaborator, Adidas.
Kanye, legally known as “Ye”, claimed that the company was selling “fake” Yeezy sneakers without his approval and failing to pay him royalties for the products.
The dispute centers around new releases of Yeezy footwear by Adidas. While the brand and West officially parted ways in October 2023 due to disagreements over creative control and business practices, Adidas retains the rights to manufacture and sell Yeezy designs launched before the split.
“Not only are they putting out fake colorways that are non-approved,” Ye stated in a video, “they’re suing me for $250 million and they’re also not paying me for these shoes that they’re putting out that have my name on it.”
He further called the situation “a rape of an artist” and urged fans to stop buying the disputed Yeezy models.
He alleges that Adidas is “using contract clauses and 50 years of business experience to rape an artist” by not paying him for these alleged unauthorized designs.
Adidas, a brand that has long collaborated with Ye on the Yeezy line, has yet to issue an official statement in response to his allegations. However, this isn’t the first time the two parties have clashed.
In 2022, Adidas severed ties with Ye following a series of controversial remarks, including hate speech and antisemitic comments.
Despite the split, Adidas continued to sell Yeezy products, even freezing $75 million worth of Yeezy funds in Ye’s bank account.
The ongoing legal battle between Ye and Adidas remains shrouded in secrecy. While the artist claims that Adidas is “suing” him, the specifics of the lawsuit remain undisclosed.
Adidas previously pledged to donate proceeds from Yeezy sales to organizations combating discrimination and hate.
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