Adidas launches investigation into claims Kanye West showed porn and explicit images of Kim Kardashian to staff

Published

3 years ago

November 25, 2022

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Adidas is launching an investigation into allegations of misconduct against Kanye West, including claims he showed pornography and explicit images of Kim Kardashian to staff members.

The German sportswear giant, which ended its partnership with the rapper last month, said it received an anonymous letter containing several allegations against the rapper.

The independent probe follows a Rolling Stone report claiming that Kanye used pornography, bullying and “mind games” to control staff.

Citing interviews with more than two dozen former Yeezy and Adidas staff, the magazine detailed allegations that West played pornography to Yeezy staff in meetings, discussed porn and showed an intimate photograph of Kim Kardashian in job interviews, and showed an explicit video and photos of Kardashian as well as his own sex tapes to Yeezy team members.

In one alleged 2017 incident, Kanye is accused of yelling “I want you to make me a shoe I can f***” at a senior female employee after claiming the Yeezy trainers he was inspecting were not up to standard.

The woman, who asked not to be named and declined to comment for the article, is said to have taken leave of absence before moving to a job elsewhere at Adidas.

According to the magazine, it is these former members of the team who sent the anonymous letter to Adidas, accusing senior company leaders of turning a “blind eye” to Kanye’s behaviour, and saying they “turned their moral compass off.”

The letter is also understood to draw attention to “the toxic and chaotic environment” they say was created by Kanye, as well as “a very sick pattern of predacious behaviour toward women”.

An Adidas spokesperson told Reuters: “It is currently not clear whether the accusations made in an anonymous letter are true. 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.”

Earlier in the week, one of Adidas’s largest shareholders, Union Investment, wrote to the company asking for more information about the claims, and when the internal allegations were first raised with management.

West’s fashion brand Yeezy was initially a collaboration launched with Nike in 2009, but transferred to Adidas in 2013. At the time Kanye said the move was due to a dispute over royalties.

West has previously spoken publicly about suffering from a “pornography addiction”, saying it “destroyed my family”.

He split with Kim Kardashian after six years of marriage. She is also mother to his four children.

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The rapper has recently faced a backlash following antisemitic comments on social media, resulting in his agent letting him go, as well as his bank JP Morgan cutting ties.

Brands including Balenciaga, Foot Locker and Gap have also ended partnerships with the musician.

Meanwhile, West has announced he will be running for the 2024 US presidential elections and has asked Donald Trump to be his running mate.

West also ran for office in 2020, but only made it on to the presidential ballot in a handful of states due to a combination of missed deadlines and lack of signatures.

Kanye West has been approached for comment.

Entertainment

Sabrina Carpenter hits out at ‘evil and disgusting’ White House video featuring her song

Published

3 hours ago

December 3, 2025

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Sabrina Carpenter hits out at 'evil and disgusting' White House video featuring her song

Sabrina Carpenter has hit out at an “evil and disgusting” White House video of migrants being detained that uses one of her songs.

“Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda,” the pop star posted on X.

The White House used part of Carpenter‘s upbeat song Juno over pictures of immigration agents handcuffing, chasing and detaining people.

It was posted on social media on Monday and has been viewed 1.2 million times so far.

President Trump‘s policy of sending officers into communities to forcibly round up illegal immigrants has proved controversial, with protests and legal challenges ongoing.

Mr Trump promised the biggest deportation in US history, but some of those detained have been living and working in the US for decades and have no criminal record.

Carpenter is not the only star to express disgust over the administration’s use of their music.

Olivia Rodrigo last month warned the White House not to “ever use my songs to promote your racist, hateful propaganda” after All-American Bitch was used in a video urging undocumented migrants to leave voluntarily.

In July, English singer Jess Glynne also said she felt “sick” when her song from the viral Jet2 advert was used over footage of people in handcuffs being loaded on a plane.

Other artists have also previously hit out at Trump officials for using their music at political campaign events, including Guns N’ Roses, Foo Fighters, Celine Dion, Ozzy Osbourne and The Rolling Stones.

Entertainment

Holly Willoughby fined after colliding with moped and injuring rider

Published

17 hours ago

December 2, 2025

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Holly Willoughby fined after colliding with moped and injuring rider

TV presenter Holly Willoughby has been fined in court after she admitted driving without due care and attention when her car collided with a moped, injuring the rider.

The star, 44, pleaded guilty by post to the charge at Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday but did not attend the hearing.

Willoughby was fined £1,653 alongside £130 in costs and a £661 victim surcharge and given six points on her licence, the Metropolitan Police said.

According to court documents, the incident happened on 28 August as she was driving her Mini Cooper near her home in Richmond, southwest London.

Police were called to Church Road, Barnes, following reports of a collision.

The rider of the moped, a 43-year-old man, was taken to hospital. His injuries were assessed as neither life-threatening nor life-changing.

Read more from Sky News:
Gavin Plumb loses appeal
Willoughby tells of ‘tough’ year

The presenter is best known for fronting Dancing On Ice as well as ITV daytime show This Morning, which she left in October 2023.