"Canceled simply because she's Palestinian" - UFC veteran defends Bella Hadid amid Adidas campaign backlash
Adidas backtracking on their new 1972 Munich Olympics SL 72 sneaker relaunch campaign featuring popular model Bella Hadid has left a sour taste in one UFC veteran's mouth. Jake Shields is unhappy with Adidas being forced to apologize for the advertisement owing to Hadid's Palestinian heritage.
For context, the 1972 Munich Olympics was enshrouded in melancholy as the Palestinian terrorist group Black September murdered 11 Israeli athletes at the games.
Given this fact, the advertisement campaign invited strong criticism from Jewish and Zionist groups. In a recent post on X, the American Jewish Committee labeled Adidas as anti-Israeli for their choice of model for their advertisement campaign.
Widespread criticism eventually forced the sports brand to pull the sneaker ad from their socials. In a statement given to USA Today, the German sports apparel and footwear corporation apologized for their oversight saying:
"We are conscious that the connections have been made to tragic historical events. Though these are completely unintentional, we apologize for any upset of distressed caused."
Shields however believes it was unfair that Hadid's heritage ultimately dictated her ineligibility for the advertisement. In a post on X, he wrote:
"Jewish organizations got Bella Hadid canceled simply because she is Palestinian. In 1942 ships full of Jewish immigrants landed from Poland and arrived in Palestine. They needed a home, so her dad and grandfather took in a family and fed them for two years. In 1948 the family decided they wanted the home and ran them out of their homes with guns. They fled to Syria."
The former UFC star has for long been vocal in slamming Israel for its ongoing attack on Ghaza. According to a report by AlJazeera, the conflict has already claimed over 38,000 lives and has left upwards of 89,000 injured.
UFC veteran slams Jewish organization for "boycotting" Adidas due to Bella Hadid
Jewish group openly shaming Adidas for featuring Bella Hadid in their SL 72 sneaker relaunch has prompted Jake Shields to clap back.
Earlier this week, StopAntisemetism, a US-based organization dedicated to fighting hatred towards Jewish people, slammed the German sports apparel manufacturer for choosing Hadid as their model for their advertisement based on the infamous 1972 Olympics.
The former UFC fighter, however, believes no harm has been done by Adidas, but is convinced that the Jewish group is overreacting. In a post on X, he wrote:
"They are boycotting Adidas simply for using a Palestinian model. These people are deranged."