American model Bella Hadid has hit back after appearing in an Adidas campaign that was criticized for references to the 1972 Munich Olympics.
"I am shocked, upset and disappointed by the lack of sensitivity in this campaign," said the model of Palestinian origin. At the 1972 Munich Olympics, 11 Israeli athletes and a German police officer were killed in an attack by a Palestinian group called Black September.
Adidas later apologized and said it would "review" its campaign, confirming that Hadid had been removed from it. Hadid, 27, has been a vocal supporter of the Palestinians.
“I would never knowingly engage in any art or work related to a terrible tragedy of any kind. I had no knowledge of the historical connection to the atrocious events of 1972. My team should have known, Adidas should have known, and I should have done more research to know and speak up. I don't believe in hate in any form, including anti-Semitism," Hadid said in a statement shared on Instagram.
"To connect the liberation of the Palestinian people with such a tragic attack is something that hurts my heart. I will forever stand by my people of Palestine as I continue to advocate for a world free of anti-Semitism. "Anti-Semitism has no place in the liberation of the Palestinian people," Hadid said worriedly.
Adidas, on the other hand, immediately released a statement saying that the links to the 1972 attack were "not intended".
The German company apologized for any inconvenience caused to communities around the world.