Gap has announced it will remove remaining Yeezy Gap products created in partnership with Kanye West from its stores, following the rapper’s series of antisemitic remarks.
American retail chain Gap Inc said in a statement on Tuesday it was taking “immediate steps” to remove Yeezy Gap merchandise from its stores. The company has also shut down its YeezyGap.com website, which now redirects back to the Gap homepage.
“Our former partner’s recent remarks and behavior further underscore why,” the statement read.
“Antisemitism, racism and hate in any form are inexcusable and not tolerated in accordance with our values. On behalf of our customers, employees and shareholders, we are partnering with organisations that combat hate and discrimination.”
The fashion retailer joins the growing list of brands, celebrities, and publications who have renounced their support for West, after he made a series of antisemitic remarks during interviews and on social media. Earlier this week, French fashion house Balenciaga announced it has cut ties with West, just weeks after the Yeezy founder opened Balenciaga’s Paris Fashion Week runway show.
On Tuesday, German sportswear brand Adidas also ended its partnership with West over the rapper’s antisemitic comments. According to Forbes, West’s estimated net worth of $2bn plummeted to just $400m at the time of the announcement.
In September, West’s fashion label Yeezy terminated its contract with Gap Inc when the rapper notified the brand via letter of Gap’s alleged “failure to meet obligations” detailed in their original agreement. West’s lawyer, Nicholas Gravante, told CNBC at the time: “Yeezy notified Gap of its concerns in August and gave the company a contractually-designated 30 days to cure its breaches.”
Gravante added that West was left with “no choice but to terminate their collaboration” because Gap allegedly failed to open branded Yeezy stores and distribute his apparel as originally planned.
Just one month before West ended his partnership deal with the retailer, Yeezy Gap unveiled its highly-anticipated collaboration at a Gap store in New York City’s Times Square. However, the infamous event went viral when customers noticed that the clothes had been sold out of large black garbage bags.
Gap and Yeezy first announced its 10-year partnership in 2020. According to Bloomberg News reporter Kim Bhasin, the company “had planned to keep selling existing Yeezy Gap items into the first half of 2023, including multiple product releases this fall and a holiday collection,” prior to the rapper’s controversial comments.
Kanye West has received widespread backlash the several antisemitic comments he’s made during interviews and on social media. In the last few weeks, the rapper has shared antisemitic conspiracy theories on Instagram, including suggesting that rapper Diddy was being controlled by Jewish people. West then doubled-down on his comments, claiming that he “doesn’t believe” in the term antisemitism.
