This month, West, who legally changed his name to Ye last year, sparked intense criticism when tweeting that he would go “death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE.” West was locked from his Twitter and Instagram accounts and has faced condemnation from social justice groups, celebrities, politicians and others.
West also posted screenshots to social media of text messages between him and Diddy, whose real name is Sean Combs, including one where he writes he’ll use the rapper “as an example to show the Jewish people that told you to call me that no one can threaten or influence me…”
Adidas on Tuesday became the latest company to cut ties with West, writing in a statement that it “does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech” and called West’s rhetoric “unacceptable, hateful and dangerous.”
“After a thorough review, the company has taken the decision to terminate the partnership with Ye immediately, end production of Yeezy branded products and stop all payments to Ye and his companies,” the statement added. “Adidas will stop the Adidas Yeezy business with immediate effect.”
As the German sportswear company and others, including Balenciaga and Hollywood talent agency CAA, have distanced themselves from West, renewed criticism has been directed at the House Judiciary GOP, since it has not deleted an October 6 tweet that reads: “Kanye. Elon. Trump.”
In addition to West, the post referred to Tesla CEO Elon Musk and former President Donald Trump. The House Judiciary GOP Twitter account initially faced pressure to delete the tweet, posted a couple days before the controversy fully unfolded.
“Adidas cut ties with Kanye this morning,” lawyer and activist Aaron Parnas tweeted Tuesday. “The House GOP Judiciary Committee remains okay with antisemitism.”
Political strategist and commentator Ana Navarro-Cárdenas listed on Twitter the companies that have distanced themselves from the rapper, and noted that the House Judiciary GOP’s tweet was still up.
“House GOP still good with him,” she added.
“…and this whole time the @JudiciaryGOP tweet has attracted widespread attention and criticism, and not one Republican with sufficient pull thought it inappropriate enough to be worth deleting,” film critic Steven D. Greydanus tweeted Tuesday.
Shortly before the Twitter controversy, West became the subject of scrutiny and backlash after wearing a “White Lives Matter” T-shirt to his Yeezy brand fashion show.
Newsweek has reached out to the office of Ohio Republican Representative Jim Jordan, ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, for comment.
