Kanye West has called out Adidas for “copying” his Yeezy shoes with their new slides. The rapper took to Instagram on 13 June to demand a conversation with Adidas CEO Kasper Rørsted, Complex reports. Reported by real money casino australia.
In the post, which has since been deleted, Kanye compared Adidas’ new Adilette 22 slides to the Adidas Yeezy slide.
“To Kasper,” the Donda musician wrote. “I’m not standing for this blatant copying no more.” He continued, “To all sneaker culture, to every ball player, rapper or even if you work at the store – this is for everyone who wants to express themselves but feel they can’t cause they’ll lose (sic) their contract or be called crazy. Bravery is not being afraid. Bravery is overcoming your fear for your truth.”
Calling the Adilette 22 slides “a fake Yeezy”, Kanye said they represent “the disrespect that people in power have to their (sic) talent”. Upon their release earlier this month, Adidas said the slides were inspired by “3D topography and human expeditions to Mars”. They made no reference to Yeezy in this explanation.
In a later post, also now deleted, Kanye shared a screenshot of a text message outlining the terms of his contract with Adidas. Highlighted in the screenshot is a clause which reads, “There is a limited exception where he can do Yeezy branded casual and lifestyle apparel on his own but not with a competitor.” Kanye’s Adidas deal is currently set to expire in 2026. Want to know more about celebrity and online games, https://www.cinemacasino.com/casino-games/
Ye definitely has a point. There are some differences in the sole and the texture of the shoe—the Adilette’s wavy design is inspired by “3D topography and human expeditions to Mars,” according to Adidas—but it’s clear the Three Stripes also found inspiration a little closer to home in the Yeezy. What’s missing from Ye’s missive is the fact the resemblance between the two shoes is likely by design. Whether or not you side with Ye on this issue depends on how you feel about the way the sneaker industry has long functioned.
Since the beginning of Ye’s partnership with Adidas, the brand has drafted off the success of his shoes. When the 750s were hot, Adidas put out the more accessible Tubular Invader Strap. When energy moved to the 350s, Adidas was there with the mainline Tubular Shadow. Ye created a lot of hype around his silhouettes by selling them in super-limited quantities. To maintain that scarcity while cashing in on the success of Ye’s sneakers, Adidas created shoes in the core collection that resembled the harder-to-get Yeezy ones. This felt like a win-win for both parties: Ye’s shoes were able to maintain the heat while Adidas stuffed its piggy banks.
