Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, took to Instagram on Tuesday evening to air his frustrations with Adidas, designer Jerry Lorenzo, and what he described as “fake friends.”
In his post, Ye accused Adidas of manipulating search results, claiming that the Adidas website appeared above Yeezy.com when searched. He also accused the company of freezing his accounts during their partnership, stating that they tried to “hold me back” and intimidate him.
Ye’s ongoing issues with Adidas stem from creative disputes and accusations of design theft. Their partnership ended in 2022 following Ye’s controversial comments, which led to a legal battle. However, in 2024, both parties reached an out-of-court settlement without any financial exchange. Despite the disputes, Ye highlighted Yeezy’s impressive performance, noting that the brand generated $100 million in 2023, despite logistical challenges.
In his post, Ye also took aim at Jerry Lorenzo, the creative director of Adidas Basketball and founder of Fear of God. He criticized Lorenzo as “corny and disloyal” for working with Adidas after his fallout with the company. Despite attending Lorenzo’s 2023 Fear of God show, Ye now regrets the gesture, describing it as an attempt to be the “bigger man.”
Shifting focus, Ye celebrated Yeezy’s strong position in the luxury fashion market, pointing out the brand’s accessibility with a $20 price point. He also revealed that over a million pairs of Yeezy pods had been sold and teased that ten new styles were in development. He concluded by asserting that “it’s Yeezy over everything,” claiming others had capitalized on their association with him to promote inferior clothing lines.
Ye’s history of conflicts with collaborators, including a fallout with Tremaine Emory in 2022 and ongoing tensions with Lorenzo, adds further context to his comments. Lorenzo himself has acknowledged the challenges of working with Ye, stating in a 2023 interview that their professional relationship ended in 2016.
Ye’s recent statements reflect his continuing struggles with former collaborators while reinforcing his reputation as a disruptor in the fashion industry.
