In response to claims that musician Kanye West fostered a “toxic environment” while working with the company, Adidas has opened an investigation.
“However, we take these allegations very seriously and have taken the decision to launch an independent investigation of the matter immediately to address the allegations.”
West, who was dropped by the company last month after he posted anti-Semitic comments online, has not responded to the Rolling Stone story.
Rolling Stone reported allegations from anonymous staff members that he attempted to intimidate them through behaviour that the magazine described as “provocative, frequently sexualized, and often directed toward women”.
That reportedly included showing them explicit images of his ex-wife Kim Kardashian and his own explicit videos, it said.
It quoted from the letter, in which staff members complained to Adidas about “the toxic and chaotic environment that Kanye West created” and “a very sick pattern of predacious behaviour toward women” who worked for him under the partnership.
According to Rolling Stone, the letter said:
“He has, in years past, exploded at women in the room with offensive remarks, and would resort to sexually disturbing references when providing design feedback. This type of response from a brand partner is one that Adidas employees should never be subjected to, nor should Adidas leadership ever tolerate.”
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