Balenciaga reportedly cuts ties with Kanye West after his antisemitic comments

Balenciaga’s parent company Kering announced that it would sever ties with Kanye West, after he made a series of antisemitic comments, Women’s Wear Daily and Business of Fashion reported Friday.

“Balenciaga has no longer any relationship nor any plans for future projects related to this artist,” Kering said in a statement referring to West, according to WWD and BOF.

Kering did not elaborate on the reasons behind ending the partnership, and did not immediately respond to calls and emails from Semafor.

West, who now goes by Ye, had forged a close working relationship with Balenciaga’s creative director Demna Gvasalia, appearing in the French fashion house’s Paris show last year. West’s ex-wife Kim Kardashian is also an avid supporter of the brand, and was featured in several of Balenciaga’s campaigns and shows.

Gvasalia also collaborated with West on his Yeezy line with Gap – but the project did not last long, ending after West accused the retailer for breaching its contract with him, according to the New York Times.

Adidas, which contracted a multi-year collaboration with West in 2016, recently said the partnership is “under review.” The company did not immediately respond to Semafor’s request for comment.

Kering initially remained quiet after Ye debuted a “White Lives Matter” T-shirt at his YZY show last month. But the shirt, along with the artist’s recent antisemitic comments and controversial political views, drew widespread backlash from people within and outside the fashion industry, including Supreme’s creative director Tremaine Emory and actor Jaden Smith. It also got him suspended from Instagram and Twitter.

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