Main Article Content
Abstract
This study aims to investigate the business impact of the Kanye West controversy on Adidas, focusing on brand management, consumer perception, and market response. Using extensive research methods and data analysis, the study examines the multifaceted impact of West's actions on the Adidas brand ecosystem. The study explores how the interplay between West's public persona and Adidas' image management strategies affect consumer attitudes and purchasing behavior. The investigation reveals impacts across market segments and geographic regions while evaluating the effectiveness of Adidas' crisis management initiatives to mitigate negative impacts and maintain brand equity amidst turbulent times. The study also highlights the evolving nature of celebrity endorsements and their implications for modern-day brand partnerships. By combining theoretical frameworks with empirical evidence, the study contributes to a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics that shape brand-consumer relationships in the context of celebrity endorsements and corporate branding strategies. Ultimately, the study emphasizes the importance of proactive brand management and adaptive marketing strategies in navigating the dynamic contemporary brand management landscape.
Keywords
Article Details

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References
- Abdirisack Jaldesa, Willy Muturi, M. M. S. (2015). Factors influencing the use of agency banking among entrepreneurs: a survey of businesses in west Pokot sub-county. The International Journal of Business & Management, 3(4), 305- 318
- Anggreyani, D.; Chairunnisa, I.; Saleh, MZ. (2023), Persepsi Merek dan Kualitas Layanan Pelanggan Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC); Jurnal Penelitian Manajemen dan Inovasi Riset, Vol. 1, No. 6, November: 481-491. DOI: https://doi.org/10.61132/lokawati.v1i6.393
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- AP, D.M. (2023). Adidas made $437 million from Yeezys despite cutting ties with ye, Time. Available at: https://time.com/6301162/adidas-sells-yeezys-kanye-antisemitism/
- Alama, K.; Jahanb, N.; Redoyan Chowdhury Chowdhury, R.; Miad, T. Md.; Saleheene, S.; Hossain-Hossain, N.; Sazzad, S.A. (2023). Impact of Brand Reputation on Initial Perceptions of Consumers, Pathfinder of Research, vol. 1, Issue 1, January. 1–10.
- Anggi. (2021, February 4). Bot Verification. Accurate. Id. https://accurate.id/marketing-manajemen/manajemen-merek/
- Bain, M. and Miller, D.-Y. (2023). Inside Adidas' Yeezy Dilemma, The Business of Fashion. Available at: https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/retail/inside-adidas-yeezy-dilemma/
- Bhasin, K. & Albright, A. (2022). Kanye West was cut by Adidas, wrecking the path to a multibillion-dollar fortune, Bloomberg.com. Available at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-10-25/ye-s-antisemitic-rantswreck-path-to-multibillion-dollar- fortune
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- Chan, Kara; Yu-Leung Ng; Luk, Edwin K. (2014). Impact of celebrity endorsement in advertising on brand image among Chinese adolescents, Young Consumers, 14(2), 167-179. https://doi.org/10.1108/17473611311325564
- Danni Santana, M.K. (2023). Adidas cut ties with you a year ago, but the controversies keep coming. Here is a history of the brand's decade-long relationship with Kanye West, Business Insider. Available at: https://www.businessinsider.com/kanye-wests-turbulent-9-year-history-with-adidas-2022-11
- Doll, K. (2024, February 28). The Collaboration Between Kanye West and Adidas: How It Began. Shortform Books. https://www.shortform.com/blog/collaboration-between-kanye-west-and-adidas/
- Eddy, M., Friedman, V., & Merced, M. (2022, October 25). Adidas Ends Partnership with Kanye West at Considerable Cost. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/25/business/adidas-kanye-west.html.
- Felsted, A. (2022) Adidas finally ditches Kanye West and Yeezy in an expensive split, Bloomberg.com. Available at: https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-10-25/adidas-finally-ditches-kanye-west-and-yeezy-in-an-ex pensive-split
- Grant, Garrett Kalel, (2018). A Case Study of Brand Associations for Yeezy Brand, LSU Master's Theses, Louisiana State University. https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_theses/4716
- Golden, J. (2022, October 7). Adidas says its relationship with Kanye West is under review. CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/06/adidas-says-its-relationship-with-kanye-west-is-under-review.html
- Hani, S., Marwan, A., & Andre, A. (2018). The Effect of Celebrity Endorsement on Consumer Behavior: Case of The Lebanese Jewelry Industry. Arab Economic and Business Journal, 13, 190–196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aebj.2018.11.002
- Kasali, R., Indonesian Market, M., & Segmentation. (2007). Machfoedz and Mahmud. In Introduction to Modern Marketing (p. 41). Gramedia. https://etheses.iainkediri.ac.id/1512/3/931304915_Bab%202.pdf
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- Kirchfeld, A., Loh, T. and Henning, E. (2022) Adidas to end Kanye West Ye Partnership after antisemitic comments, Bloomberg.com. Available at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-10-25/adidas-is-said-to-end-kanye-west-partnership-after-contr overseas
- Lückerath-Rovers, M. (2024). The Case of ADIDAS and Kanye West (Ye). In: Moral Dilemmas in the Boardroom. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-65269-1_18
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- Loh, T. (2022). Adidas Kanye West Yeezy Shoes to be sold without rebranding, Bloomberg.com. Available at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-09/adidas-plans-to-make-up-for-yeezy-profits-by-selling- same-shoes
- Masdupi, E., Thursina, W., Faculty, University, E., Padang, N., Hamka, K., Unp, A., & Padang. (2015). Book of Proceedings published by (c) Analysis of Market Response Before and After the Announcement of Financial Statements at Companies Included in the LQ-45 Index on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). http://fe.unp.ac.id/sites/default/files/unggahan/17.%20Erni%20Masdupi%2C%20Wahyu%20Thursina%2 0%28 p%20269-276%29_0.pdf
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- Muda, Mazzini; et al., (2014). Celebrity Entrepreneur Endorsement and Advertising Effectiveness, Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 130: 11 – 20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.04.002
- Media, K. C. (2021, December 30). 4 Major Factors that Influence Consumer Behavior All page. KOMPAS.com. https://www.kompas.com/skola/read/2021/12/30/110000669/4-faktor-utama-yang-memengaruhi-perilaku-konsu men?page=all
- Nafadanada. (2024, March 6). Marketing Management as an Effective Business Strategy. MBTI Telkom University. https://bms.telkomuniversity.ac.id/manajemen-pemasaran-sebagai-strategi-bisnis-yang-efektif/#:~:text=Tujuan%20dari%20manajemen%20pemasaran%20adalah
- Nani et al., (2024). The Effect of Product Differentiation and Brand Image on Purchasing Decisions, Golden Ratio of Marketing and Applied Psychology of Business, Vol.4, Issue. 2: 212–219. https://doi.org/10.52970/grmapb.v4i2.684
- Novianti, A; Indira Rachmawati, I., (2022). The Influence of Celebrity Endorser and Brand Image Towards Purchase Intention in Scarlett Whitening Products; e-Proceeding of Management, vol.8, no.6, December: 3268-3276
- Putera, Dwi. D. (2017). Pengaruh Celebrity Endorser Kanye West Terhadap Minat Beli pada produk Adidas Yeezy. E-Proceeding of Management Journal, 4(1), 792–800
- Press, A. (2022, October 26). Adidas Terminates Partnership with Kanye West After Antisemitic Remarks. VOA Indonesia. https://www.voaindonesia.com/a/adidas-memutus-kerja-samanya-dengan-kanye-west-setelah-pernyataan-antise mit/6805803.html
- Priyankara, R., Weerasiri, S., Dissanayaka, R., & Jinadasa, M. (2017). Celebrity endorsement and consumer buying intention about the television advertisement for perfumes. University of Kelaniya Journal of Management Studies, 5(2), 128–148. https://doi.org/10.17265/2328-2185/2017.02.005
- Rang, L. (2022, October 28). Adidas broke three cardinal PR rules with Kanye West. Newswhip. https://www.newswhip.com/2022/10/three-cardinal-rules-of-pr-that-adidas-broke-with-kanye-west/
- Rajasekar, D. (2018). A study on purchase decisions of celebrity endorsement on an advertising campaign in influencing consumer: Impact analysis. International Journal of Supply Chain Management, 7(1), 230–235. https://doi.org/10.59160/ijscm.v7i1.2087
- Rusdian, S; Sugiat, J; Tojiri, Y. (2024). Understanding Consumer Behavior in Marketing Management: A Descriptive Study and Review of Literature, Golden Ratio of Marketing and Applied Psychology of Business, Vol.4, Issue. 2. https://doi.org/10.52970/grmapb.v4i2.416
- Rosenblatt, J. (2023) Adidas hit with investor suit over broken ye=partnership, Bloomberg.com. Available at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-29/adidas-hit-with-investor-suit-over-broken-ye-partners hip
- S. Syaifuddin, (2024). Understanding the Dynamics of Collaboration and Partnerships: A Qualitative Inquiry into Enhancing Competitiveness through Strategic Alliances and Business Networks, Golden Ratio of Marketing and Applied Psychology of Business, Vol. 5, Issue. 1 (2025) https://doi.org/10.52970/grmapb.v5i1.66
- Sutherlin, M. (2023). Adidas Faces Life after Yeezy: Weekend reads from big takes, Bloomberg.com. Available at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2023-05-27/adidas-faces-life-after-yeezy-weekend-reads-from-bi g-take?lead source uverify+wall=
- Takaya, R. (2017). The Effect of Celebrity Endorsement on Brand Image and Trust Brand and its Impact on Purchase Intention, Case Study: Oppo Smartphone; Business and Entrepreneurial Review, Vol.17, No.2, October. 183 – 196.
- Thomas, L. (2021, June 30). Wells Fargo says that Gap's Yeezy brand with Kanye West could tally nearly $1 billion in sales in the first year. CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/30/gaps-yeezy-line-to-bring-1-billion-in-sales-in-year-one-wells-fargo.h ml
- Twohey, M. (2023). Kanye and Adidas: Money, misconduct and the price of appeasement, The New York Times. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/27/business/kanye-west-adidas-yeezy.html
- Vlahos, N. (2022, November 2). More than 40% of Adidas' profit came from Yeezy Sneaker Sales. Sole
- Retriever. https://www.soleretriever.com/news/articles/40-percent-of-adidas-profit-came-from-yeezy-sneaker-sal es-2022
- Xinyuan Zhang (2022). The Successful Strategy of Yeezy in Digital Marketing, 2022 International Conference on Economic Administration and Information Systems (EAIS 2022): 82–89. Published by CSP.
References
Abdirisack Jaldesa, Willy Muturi, M. M. S. (2015). Factors influencing the use of agency banking among entrepreneurs: a survey of businesses in west Pokot sub-county. The International Journal of Business & Management, 3(4), 305- 318
Anggreyani, D.; Chairunnisa, I.; Saleh, MZ. (2023), Persepsi Merek dan Kualitas Layanan Pelanggan Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC); Jurnal Penelitian Manajemen dan Inovasi Riset, Vol. 1, No. 6, November: 481-491. DOI: https://doi.org/10.61132/lokawati.v1i6.393
Alatas, S. L., & Tarbani, M. (2018). Pengaruh Celebrity Endorser Terhadap Purchase Intention Melalui Brand Credibility. Jurnal Manajemen dan Inovasi, 9(1), 91–105. https://jurnal.usk.ac.id/JInoMan/article/view/11423/9078
AP, D.M. (2023). Adidas made $437 million from Yeezys despite cutting ties with ye, Time. Available at: https://time.com/6301162/adidas-sells-yeezys-kanye-antisemitism/
Alama, K.; Jahanb, N.; Redoyan Chowdhury Chowdhury, R.; Miad, T. Md.; Saleheene, S.; Hossain-Hossain, N.; Sazzad, S.A. (2023). Impact of Brand Reputation on Initial Perceptions of Consumers, Pathfinder of Research, vol. 1, Issue 1, January. 1–10.
Anggi. (2021, February 4). Bot Verification. Accurate. Id. https://accurate.id/marketing-manajemen/manajemen-merek/
Bain, M. and Miller, D.-Y. (2023). Inside Adidas' Yeezy Dilemma, The Business of Fashion. Available at: https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/retail/inside-adidas-yeezy-dilemma/
Bhasin, K. & Albright, A. (2022). Kanye West was cut by Adidas, wrecking the path to a multibillion-dollar fortune, Bloomberg.com. Available at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-10-25/ye-s-antisemitic-rantswreck-path-to-multibillion-dollar- fortune
Butler, S., Oltermann, P., & Ferrier, M. (2022, October 25). Adidas cuts ties with Kanye West over antisemitic comments. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/oct/25/adidas-cuts-ties-with-kanye-west-over-antisemitic-comments
Chan, Kara; Yu-Leung Ng; Luk, Edwin K. (2014). Impact of celebrity endorsement in advertising on brand image among Chinese adolescents, Young Consumers, 14(2), 167-179. https://doi.org/10.1108/17473611311325564
Danni Santana, M.K. (2023). Adidas cut ties with you a year ago, but the controversies keep coming. Here is a history of the brand's decade-long relationship with Kanye West, Business Insider. Available at: https://www.businessinsider.com/kanye-wests-turbulent-9-year-history-with-adidas-2022-11
Doll, K. (2024, February 28). The Collaboration Between Kanye West and Adidas: How It Began. Shortform Books. https://www.shortform.com/blog/collaboration-between-kanye-west-and-adidas/
Eddy, M., Friedman, V., & Merced, M. (2022, October 25). Adidas Ends Partnership with Kanye West at Considerable Cost. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/25/business/adidas-kanye-west.html.
Felsted, A. (2022) Adidas finally ditches Kanye West and Yeezy in an expensive split, Bloomberg.com. Available at: https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-10-25/adidas-finally-ditches-kanye-west-and-yeezy-in-an-ex pensive-split
Grant, Garrett Kalel, (2018). A Case Study of Brand Associations for Yeezy Brand, LSU Master's Theses, Louisiana State University. https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_theses/4716
Golden, J. (2022, October 7). Adidas says its relationship with Kanye West is under review. CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/06/adidas-says-its-relationship-with-kanye-west-is-under-review.html
Hani, S., Marwan, A., & Andre, A. (2018). The Effect of Celebrity Endorsement on Consumer Behavior: Case of The Lebanese Jewelry Industry. Arab Economic and Business Journal, 13, 190–196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aebj.2018.11.002
Kasali, R., Indonesian Market, M., & Segmentation. (2007). Machfoedz and Mahmud. In Introduction to Modern Marketing (p. 41). Gramedia. https://etheses.iainkediri.ac.id/1512/3/931304915_Bab%202.pdf
Kanye West: Adidas breaks up with Ye; how much impact will it have? (2022, October 27). BBC News Indonesia. https://www.bbc.com/indonesia/articles/cd1lz5nq2j4o
Kirchfeld, A., Loh, T. and Henning, E. (2022) Adidas to end Kanye West Ye Partnership after antisemitic comments, Bloomberg.com. Available at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-10-25/adidas-is-said-to-end-kanye-west-partnership-after-contr overseas
Lückerath-Rovers, M. (2024). The Case of ADIDAS and Kanye West (Ye). In: Moral Dilemmas in the Boardroom. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-65269-1_18
Loh, T. (2023). Adidas's new CEO has a $1.3 billion pile of unsold Yeezy Gear, Bloomberg.com. Available at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-02-09/adidas-says-losses-may-hit-700-million-this-year-ami d-ye-row?lead source uverify+wall=
Loh, T. (2022). Adidas Kanye West Yeezy Shoes to be sold without rebranding, Bloomberg.com. Available at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-09/adidas-plans-to-make-up-for-yeezy-profits-by-selling- same-shoes
Masdupi, E., Thursina, W., Faculty, University, E., Padang, N., Hamka, K., Unp, A., & Padang. (2015). Book of Proceedings published by (c) Analysis of Market Response Before and After the Announcement of Financial Statements at Companies Included in the LQ-45 Index on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). http://fe.unp.ac.id/sites/default/files/unggahan/17.%20Erni%20Masdupi%2C%20Wahyu%20Thursina%2 0%28 p%20269-276%29_0.pdf
Miza, N., Adlini, A., Dinda, S., Yulinda, O., Chotimah, Sauda, J., Merliyana, Kunci, K., Research, M., Pustaka, S., & Qualitative. (2022). Qualitative Research Methods Literature Study. Research Methods Qualitative Study Literature, 6(1), 974-980. https://ummaspul.e-journal.id/maspuljr/article/download/3394/1177/
Muda, Mazzini; et al., (2014). Celebrity Entrepreneur Endorsement and Advertising Effectiveness, Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 130: 11 – 20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.04.002
Media, K. C. (2021, December 30). 4 Major Factors that Influence Consumer Behavior All page. KOMPAS.com. https://www.kompas.com/skola/read/2021/12/30/110000669/4-faktor-utama-yang-memengaruhi-perilaku-konsu men?page=all
Nafadanada. (2024, March 6). Marketing Management as an Effective Business Strategy. MBTI Telkom University. https://bms.telkomuniversity.ac.id/manajemen-pemasaran-sebagai-strategi-bisnis-yang-efektif/#:~:text=Tujuan%20dari%20manajemen%20pemasaran%20adalah
Nani et al., (2024). The Effect of Product Differentiation and Brand Image on Purchasing Decisions, Golden Ratio of Marketing and Applied Psychology of Business, Vol.4, Issue. 2: 212–219. https://doi.org/10.52970/grmapb.v4i2.684
Novianti, A; Indira Rachmawati, I., (2022). The Influence of Celebrity Endorser and Brand Image Towards Purchase Intention in Scarlett Whitening Products; e-Proceeding of Management, vol.8, no.6, December: 3268-3276
Putera, Dwi. D. (2017). Pengaruh Celebrity Endorser Kanye West Terhadap Minat Beli pada produk Adidas Yeezy. E-Proceeding of Management Journal, 4(1), 792–800
Press, A. (2022, October 26). Adidas Terminates Partnership with Kanye West After Antisemitic Remarks. VOA Indonesia. https://www.voaindonesia.com/a/adidas-memutus-kerja-samanya-dengan-kanye-west-setelah-pernyataan-antise mit/6805803.html
Priyankara, R., Weerasiri, S., Dissanayaka, R., & Jinadasa, M. (2017). Celebrity endorsement and consumer buying intention about the television advertisement for perfumes. University of Kelaniya Journal of Management Studies, 5(2), 128–148. https://doi.org/10.17265/2328-2185/2017.02.005
Rang, L. (2022, October 28). Adidas broke three cardinal PR rules with Kanye West. Newswhip. https://www.newswhip.com/2022/10/three-cardinal-rules-of-pr-that-adidas-broke-with-kanye-west/
Rajasekar, D. (2018). A study on purchase decisions of celebrity endorsement on an advertising campaign in influencing consumer: Impact analysis. International Journal of Supply Chain Management, 7(1), 230–235. https://doi.org/10.59160/ijscm.v7i1.2087
Rusdian, S; Sugiat, J; Tojiri, Y. (2024). Understanding Consumer Behavior in Marketing Management: A Descriptive Study and Review of Literature, Golden Ratio of Marketing and Applied Psychology of Business, Vol.4, Issue. 2. https://doi.org/10.52970/grmapb.v4i2.416
Rosenblatt, J. (2023) Adidas hit with investor suit over broken ye=partnership, Bloomberg.com. Available at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-29/adidas-hit-with-investor-suit-over-broken-ye-partners hip
S. Syaifuddin, (2024). Understanding the Dynamics of Collaboration and Partnerships: A Qualitative Inquiry into Enhancing Competitiveness through Strategic Alliances and Business Networks, Golden Ratio of Marketing and Applied Psychology of Business, Vol. 5, Issue. 1 (2025) https://doi.org/10.52970/grmapb.v5i1.66
Sutherlin, M. (2023). Adidas Faces Life after Yeezy: Weekend reads from big takes, Bloomberg.com. Available at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2023-05-27/adidas-faces-life-after-yeezy-weekend-reads-from-bi g-take?lead source uverify+wall=
Takaya, R. (2017). The Effect of Celebrity Endorsement on Brand Image and Trust Brand and its Impact on Purchase Intention, Case Study: Oppo Smartphone; Business and Entrepreneurial Review, Vol.17, No.2, October. 183 – 196.
Thomas, L. (2021, June 30). Wells Fargo says that Gap's Yeezy brand with Kanye West could tally nearly $1 billion in sales in the first year. CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/30/gaps-yeezy-line-to-bring-1-billion-in-sales-in-year-one-wells-fargo.h ml
Twohey, M. (2023). Kanye and Adidas: Money, misconduct and the price of appeasement, The New York Times. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/27/business/kanye-west-adidas-yeezy.html
Vlahos, N. (2022, November 2). More than 40% of Adidas' profit came from Yeezy Sneaker Sales. Sole
Retriever. https://www.soleretriever.com/news/articles/40-percent-of-adidas-profit-came-from-yeezy-sneaker-sal es-2022
Xinyuan Zhang (2022). The Successful Strategy of Yeezy in Digital Marketing, 2022 International Conference on Economic Administration and Information Systems (EAIS 2022): 82–89. Published by CSP.