Adidas has officially cleared its remaining Yeezy inventory, bringing an end to its once-lucrative collaboration with Kanye West, now known as Ye. The sportswear brand confirmed on Wednesday that there are no Yeezy shoes left in stock, signaling the closure of this chapter. Adidas CFO Harm Ohlmeyer stated that the company has moved on from the partnership.
The German sportswear giant ended its relationship with West in October 2022 following the rapper’s antisemitic remarks, which led to significant backlash and an estimated $246 million loss for Adidas. At the time, the company emphasized its stance against hate speech, declaring, “Adidas does not tolerate antisemitism or any form of hate speech.” Despite efforts to sell off its remaining Yeezy stock, Adidas reported a 2% decline in North American sales for 2023 and 2024, citing the reduced impact of Yeezy products as a contributing factor.
In May 2023, Adidas began liquidating its Yeezy inventory, committing to donate a portion of the proceeds to organizations dedicated to combating antisemitism, such as the Anti-Defamation League. Meanwhile, Kanye West has continued to use the Yeezy brand for his independent projects. A recent Super Bowl ad promoting West’s merchandise drew criticism due to his ongoing controversial statements and product offerings, including a t-shirt featuring a swastika.
With the final Yeezy stock now sold, Adidas is shifting its focus to future business strategies, aiming to distance itself from the controversies tied to West and rebuild its brand image.
