Adidas to launch investigation against Kanye West over allegations of inappropriate behavior

Adidas ends relationship with Kanye West 1:12

(CNN) --

Adidas will launch an investigation against Kanye West over allegations of misconduct, after an article in Rolling Stone reported that the sportswear brand ignored inappropriate behavior by the rapper, also known as Ye, in his partnership with his Yeezy brand.

Rolling Stone says it obtained a private letter on Tuesday from high-ranking Yeezy employees to executive board members about "the toxic and chaotic environment that Kanye West created."

The letter also stated: "Adidas employees should never be subjected to this kind of attitude from a brand partner and Adidas management should never tolerate it."

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Adidas ended its association with Ye after a series of anti-Semitic comments by the rapper.

Adidas had been associated with West since 2013, when the company signed his brand away from rival Nike.

In 2016, Adidas expanded its relationship with the rapper, calling it "the most important partnership ever created between an athletic brand and a non-athlete."

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In a statement issued on Thursday, Adidas said that "it is currently unclear whether the allegations made in an anonymous letter are true. However, we take them very seriously and have decided to launch an independent investigation into the matter immediately to address the concerns." accusations".

Despite ending its association with the rapper, Adidas will continue to sell the lucrative line of shoes and clothing, stripped of the Yeezy name and brand.

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The company said it is the sole owner of all design rights to the Yeezy line for existing and future colors and versions.

Selling the shoes under Adidas' own brand will save the company about $300 million in royalty payments and marketing fees.

“Going forward, we will build on existing inventory with the exact plans being developed as we speak,” Adidas CFO Harm Ohlmeyer said earlier this month.

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