Kanye West and Adidas have reached a settlement after years of disputes following the end of their Yeezy collaboration.
The partnership was abruptly terminated in October 2022 after Kanye, now known as Ye, made antisemitic remarks on social media, prompting Adidas to end their relationship immediately. Since then, both parties have been involved in legal proceedings and private arbitration over the contract’s termination. However, during a conference call on Tuesday, Adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden confirmed that the dispute had been settled, with neither side owing further payments.
"There are no more open issues, and there is no money going either way," Gulden explained, per the BBC. "There were tensions on many issues, but both parties agreed it’s time to move on."
Gulden added that any conflicts with Ye “belong to the past,” and expressed relief at the resolution. "In situations like these, you handle provisions, gather legal advice, and reach settlements. This marks the end of it. No one owes anything to anyone anymore. It’s all history now," he said.
Kanye’s representatives have yet to comment on the settlement.
The Yeezy brand, first launched in 2015 with the Yeezy Boost 750, became an immediate sensation, with fans lining up for hours to purchase the sneakers. Later, the Yeezy fashion line also gained popularity.
However, after the partnership was dissolved, Adidas was left with $1.3 billion worth of unsold Yeezy sneakers. Rather than destroying the inventory, Adidas chose to sell the stock and donate part of the proceeds to charities like the Anti-Defamation League and The Philonise and Keeta Floyd Institute for Social Change.
