Bella Hadid breaks silence over Adidas ad row, says lacked sensitivity

American supermodel Bella Hadid, a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause, has responded to last week's controversy over her role in an Adidas shoe campaign. In an Instagram story, Bella shared her regret and clarified her stance on the issue. Adidas faced massive backlash for picking Hadid for the ad and ultimately had to discontinue the campaign.

The choice of Bella Hadid was problematic because of the bloody history of the 1972 Munich Olympics.

Hadid calls herself a "proud Palestinian".

The Adidas campaign, which featured the SL 72 "coveted classic" sneakers from the '70s, coincided with the 52nd anniversary of the Munich Olympics, where 12 Israeli coaches and athletes were killed by Palestinian terrorists.

After Adidas launched the campaign, the American Jewish Committee tweeted against the Adidas campaign.

Adidas then apologised and even removed all tweets featuring Hadid from their X and Instagram handles.

BELLA HADID RESPONDED TO THE UPROAR ON INSTAGRAM

Supermodel Bella Hadid took to Instagram Stories to express her "disappointment in the lack of sensitivity that went into the campaign".

"I am shocked, I am upset, and I am disappointed in the lack of sensitivity that went into this campaign. Had I been made aware, from the bottom of my heart, I would never have participated," Hadid wrote on her Instagram story on July 29.

She explained that she had no prior knowledge of the historical connection to the 1972 events before the campaign's release.

"I would never knowingly engage with any art or work that is linked to a horrific tragedy of any kind. In advance of the campaign's release, I had no knowledge of the historical connection to the atrocious events in 1972," Bella wrote.

Supermodel Hadid admitted that both her team and Adidas should have conducted more research to avoid such a situation.

"While everyone's intentions were to make something positive and bring people together through art, the collective lack of understanding from all parties undermined the process. I do not believe in hate in any form, including antisemitism. That will never waiver, and I stand by that statement to the fullest extent," she stated.

The supermodel also criticised the idea that Palestine is linked to terrorism, rejecting the connection between "the liberation of the Palestinian people" and the antisemitic attack.

Hadid calls herself a "proud Palestinian" and has been vocal in her support for Gaza in the Israel-Hamas war. She had even marched against former President Donald Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

"Palestine is not synonymous with terrorism and this campaign unintentionally highlighted an event that does not represent who we are. I am a proud Palestinian woman and there is so much more to our culture than the things that have been equated over the past week," Hadid wrote on her Instagram story.

I will forever stand by my people of Palestine while continuing to advocate for a world free of antisemitism. Antisemitism has no place in the liberation of the Palestinian people. I will always stand for peace over violence, any day. Hate has no place here, and I will forever advocate for not only my people, but every person world wide," she added.

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