Adidas launches probe into misconduct allegations in opposition to Kanye West By Reuters

By Akriti Sharma

(Reuters) – Adidas AG (ETR:) on Thursday mentioned it has launched an investigation into allegations of inappropriate conduct by Kanye West, after the German sporting items maker final month ended its partnership with the rapper and dressmaker.

Adidas (OTC:) mentioned it initiated the probe after receiving an nameless letter making a number of allegations in opposition to the musician, who now goes by Ye.

The investigation follows a report by Rolling Stone journal that detailed alleged incidents of inappropriate conduct by Ye towards employees and potential workers. Rolling Stone cited interviews with greater than two dozen former Yeezy and Adidas employees.

In response to the journal, former members of the staff despatched an nameless letter to Adidas by which they mentioned senior leaders on the firm have been conscious of Ye’s conduct, however had turned a “blind eye” and “turned their ethical compass off.”

“It’s at the moment not clear whether or not the accusations made in an nameless letter are true,” an Adidas spokesperson mentioned in an announcement to Reuters.

“Nonetheless, we take these allegations very severely and have taken the choice to launch an impartial investigation of the matter instantly to handle the allegations.”

Ye couldn’t be instantly be reached for remark. Information of the probe was first reported by the Monetary Instances on Thursday.

In response to the Monetary Instances, Germany’s third-largest asset supervisor, Union Funding, wrote to Adidas on Thursday asking for extra details about the claims.

Union Funding didn’t instantly reply to Reuters’ request for remark.

Ye has courted controversy in current months by publicly ending main company tie-ups and making outbursts on social media in opposition to different celebrities. His Twitter and Instagram accounts have been restricted, with the social media platforms eradicating a few of his posts that customers condemned as antisemitic.