Bella Hadid (left) and a terrorist involved in the 1972 Munich Massacre (right). Photo
On Friday, July 19th, Adidas announced it had removed vocal ethnically Palestinian model Bella Hadid from an advertising campaign for retro sneakers, ETBrandEquity.com reports on July 20th. The campaign referenced the 1972 Munich Olympics, which were marred by the massacre of Israeli athletes.
The German sportswear giant recently reintroduced the SL72, a sneaker originally worn by athletes at the 1972 Olympics, as part of a series reviving classic designs.
The Israeli Olympic team marches in procession during the opening ceremony of the Munich Olympic Games on August 26th, 1972. Photo
Read more: Israel Launches an Assault on the Port City of Hodeidah in Yemen
The 1972 Olympics is also tragically renowned for the Palestinian Black September group taking Israeli athletes hostage. Eleven Israelis, a German policeman, and five Palestinian attackers were killed after a standoff at the Olympic village and the nearby Fürstenfeldbruck airfield, where rescue efforts escalated into a gunfight.
The German sports brand announced on Friday, July 19th, that it would be immediately “revising the remainder of the campaign”, according to Al Jazeera.
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,
– Adidas stated in a release provided to the news agency AFP.
Bella Hadid, with her father being Palestinian, has consistently spoken out against the Israeli government and voiced support for Palestinians over the years.
ETBrandEquity, Al Jazeera, AFP and agencies