00:00Kanye West's recent comments about slavery could cost him when it comes to his
00:04Decacorn Yeezy brand. On Tuesday, the producer Rapid Designer caused outrage when he said
00:09that 400 years of slavery, quote, "...sounds like a choice," in an interview with TMZ.
00:14West also doubled down on his admiration for President Donald Trump, saying,
00:18"...I just love Trump. That's my boy." The shocking comments about slavery denying
00:22hundreds of years of resistance have led to a petition on Care2 calling for Adidas
00:26to boycott West. The petition reads,
00:28While Kanye can live safely in his multi-million-dollar castle, the rest of
00:32black America is continually marginalized and subject to unjust laws and treatment.
00:37Some even die because this behavior is so ingrained in our society. Kanye West has a
00:42right to free speech, and he has the right to spout lies and misinformation and
00:45misplaced opinions. But we, as consumers, have the right to fight back against this
00:50type of dangerous propaganda. The petition ends with a plea.
00:53Tell the world Adidas does not want anything to do with anyone who believes that
00:57millions of Africans chose to toil the fields in bondage. The Hollywood Reporter has
01:02reached out to Adidas for comment. The rapper moved his Yeezy brand under the umbrella of
01:06the athletic wear giant in 2013, and Adidas announced a long-term relationship with him in
01:102016, with plans to expand apparel and retail stores. While West has boasted about the
01:15success of his Decacorn empire, just last week THR raised the question of whether West was
01:20killing his brand by endorsing the controversial President Trump. A crisis management expert said
01:24West lit the torch of war with the African-American community and liberal community.
01:29If the torch was lit with his Trump praising, the war may be intensified now. Meanwhile, West's
01:34latest clothing venture launches this weekend, which could put the theories to the test.
01:38The big question remains, will the Yeezy brand be able to survive despite the negative
01:42publicity surrounding its creator?
01:44This time, West has partnered with sportswear company 2XU, which is lending its high-tech fabric
01:49engineering to Yeezy's season six and season seven collections. Kim Kardashian has already been
01:53sporting the new apparel on her Instagram. Representatives of 2XU had no comment when THR
01:58reached out about West's recent social media post, but they said he would not be doing any
02:01personal appearances for the launch. To read more on the petition urging Adidas to cut ties
02:06with Kanye West, head to THR.com. For The Hollywood Reporter News, I'm Lyndsey Rodrigues.
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