Adidas launches probe into misconduct allegations towards Kanye West

Adidas AG 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 clothier.

Adidas mentioned it initiated the probe after receiving an nameless letter making a number of allegations towards 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 workers and potential staff. Rolling Stone cited interviews with greater than two dozen former Yeezy and Adidas workers.

Based on the journal, former members of the workforce despatched an nameless letter to Adidas through which they mentioned senior leaders on the firm had 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 critically and have taken the choice to launch an unbiased investigation of the matter instantly to deal with the allegations.”

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

Union Funding, which owns a 0.76% stake in Adidas, wrote to the corporate asking for extra details about the claims.

“Adidas must disclose when the administration and the supervisory board was first knowledgeable concerning the inside allegations,” Janne Werning, who heads ESG Capital Markets & Stewardship at Union Funding, mentioned in an announcement to Reuters.

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

Additionally Learn: Kanye West to run for 2024 US elections, needs Trump to be his ‘working mate’