![Adidas Stands By Kanye West Despite Slavery Remarks: ‘He’s Very Important for Strategy’](http://townsquare.media/site/625/files/2018/05/Adidas-Stands-By-Kanye-West.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Adidas Stands By Kanye West Despite Slavery Remarks: ‘He’s Very Important for Strategy’
Kanye West’s remarks about “slavery being a choice” has certainly drawn the ire of fans and critics who think the rapper-producer has gone too far with his “free-thinking.” Certainly, West’s investors might be uneasy about his comments, but in an interview with Bloomberg, Adidas CEO Kasper Rorsted says that West is still a vital part of their brand.
Although Rorsted has not talked with West within the past 24 hours, he maintains that he’s not dropping him anytime soon. “There clearly are some comments we don’t support,” Rorsted said in the interview. He later added that West "has been/is a very important part of our strategy."
However, Rorsted insists that the company plans to talk with West about the matter but wouldn't divulge if they are considering dropping West from Adidas altogether.
Despite West's remarks, Adidas is reporting better-than-expected first-quarter earnings. The German brand posted sales of $5.1 billion in North America, according to Footwear News. West’s Yeezy Boost sneakers have certainly helped Adidas maintain a foothold in the sneaker game behind their competitor Nike.
However, West's comments about slavery will probably make him a liability to Adidas.
West has since double-downed on his remarks and continues to tweet that he's learning through discussions with various people close to him.
You can watch the full interview here.
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