Bella Hadid 'shocked, upset' over Adidas shoe campaign, defends Palestinian cause

Palestinian-American model Bella Hadid has addressed her involvement in an abortive Adidas advertising campaign for shoes referencing the 1972 Olympics in Munich earlier this month.

Hadid described being "shocked, upset and disappointed" over the "lack of sensitivity that went into this campaign", and stressed her lack of knowledge "of the historical connection to the atrocious events in 1972", in advance of the campaign’s release.

She continued: "While everyone's intentions were to make something positive, and bring people together through art, the collective lack of understanding from all parties undermined the process."

Hadid was removed from the campaign for the relaunched SL72 trainer, which was used in the 1972 edition of the Olympics, following a chorus of complaints from pro-Israel groups.

In that year, Palestinian militants from the Black September Group, looking to free hundreds of Palestinians in Israeli detention, took eleven Israeli athletes hostage at the games and later killed them during a shootout with German police. One German police officer was also killed.

"I would never knowingly engage with any art or work that is linked to a horrific tragedy of any kind," she said on the Instagram story feature on Monday night.

The model, who has publicly campaigned on behalf of the Palestinian cause, said "connecting Palestinian liberation to an event so tragic" is something that "hurts her heart".

"Palestine is not synonymous with terrorism and this campaign unintentionally highlighted an event that does not represent who we are."

Hadid, who has been outspoken over Israel’s brutal military onslaught in Gaza, went on to describe herself as a "proud Palestinian woman".

The fashion star also expressed her commitment to combating antisemitism alongside her support for Palestine.

"I will forever stand by my people of Palestine while continuing to advocate for a world free of antisemitism," Hadid said.

"My team should have known, Adidas should have known and I should have done more research so that I too would have known and understood, and spoken up."

After complaints and trolling of Hadid by pro-Israel groups, the German sportswear giant said it would be "revising its campaign", and went on to issue an apology last week to Hadid and other celebrities involved in the campaign.

Adidas called the incident a "unintentional mistake" and apologised "for any upset or distress caused to communities around the world".

Hadid has been vocally critical of Israel’s attacks in the Gaza Strip, which has killed at least 39,400 Palestinians over the past 10 months.

The model, who is the daughter of Palestinian real estate mogul and Nakba survivor Mohamed Hadid, has used her status to raise awareness on Israel’s decades-long occupation of the Palestinian territories, and the atrocities and human rights abuses committed there.

In June, Hadid, alongside her sister and fellow model Gigi, donated $1 million to relief funds supporting Palestinians in Gaza.