Gap Condemns Kanye West's Antisemitic Comments After Ending Yeezy Partnership

Gap, which parted ways with Kanye West last month, condemned his antisemitic comments in a recent statement, writing that the company was taking steps to remove Yeezy products its stores.

By Angie Orellana Hernandez Oct 25, 2022 8:54 PMTags
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Gap is standing by its decision to end business with Kanye West.

The retailer issued a statement Oct. 25 denouncing West's antisemitic remarks on social media amid other organizations—including Balenciaga and Adidas—taking steps to end their partnerships with the rapper. Though Gap and West ended their collaboration on Sept. 15 over over alleged business disputes, the company is now moving forward with removing Yeezy Gap products from stores and have shut down the website YeezyGap.com.

"In September, Gap announced ending its Yeezy Gap partnership. Our former partner's recent remarks and behavior further underscore why," the company said in a statement to E! News. "Antisemitism, racism and hate in any form are inexcusable and not tolerated in accordance with our values."

The statement continued, "On behalf of our customers, employees and shareholders, we are partnering with organizations that combat hate and discrimination."

West's antisemitic comments included a since-deleted Oct. 8 tweet where the rapper wrote that he was "going death con 3 on Jewish people," adding that "you guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball anyone whoever opposes your agenda." His comments spurred condemnation from celebrities, including estranged wife Kim Kardashian who tweeted Oct. 24, "Hate speech is never OK or excusable. I stand together with the Jewish community and call on the terrible violence and hateful rhetoric towards them to come to an immediate end."

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In addition to West's Twitter account, his Instagram was also restricted for violating company policies, a spokesperson for Meta confirmed on Oct. 10. The rapper has since defended his comments offline, including an Oct. 9 television interview with Piers Morgan where he said he was sorry for hurting people, but that he didn't regret his actions.

Amid the growing controversy, companies like Balenciaga, talent agency CAA and MRC studio executives Modi Wiczyk, Asif Satchu and Scott Tenley—who were making a documentary on the rapper—have publicly cut ties with West. Adidas, which stated Oct. 6 that its decade-long collaborative partnership with West was "under review," announced on Oct. 25 that the company was terminating their partnership with the Yeezy designer effective immediately.

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"Adidas does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech," the company said in a statement. "Ye's recent comments and actions have been unacceptable, hateful and dangerous, and they violate the company's values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and fairness."

E! News has reached out to Kanye's team for comment and hasn't heard back.

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