Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, had been on top of the world. It was October last year, and the rapper and designer had just modelled in Balenciaga’s Spring 2023 show, spun his acrimonious split from Gap as a creative triumph and was about to stage a much-anticipated last-minute show at Paris Fashion Week. Ye may have been in the midst of a divorce, yet he and Kim Kardashian seemed, at least publicly, to be on amicable terms.

All of that disappeared nearly overnight when he appeared at his Paris show wearing a “White Lives Matter” T-shirt. He gave disturbing interviews filled with antisemitic vitriol. Within the month, his investment bank JPMorgan Chase, his talent agency CAA, and Balenciaga all cut ties with him. He was confident adidas would not do the same.

Washington Post