Kanye West isn't the only celebrity to lose a sponsor over controversial comments

Rapper and designer Kanye West, now legally known as Ye, lost his billionaire status after German sportwear giant Adidas terminated their contract for his string of anti-Semitic rhetoric.

In a statement Tuesday, the sportswear maker said it “does not tolerate anti-Semitism and any other sort of hate speech” and said that his recent comments were “unacceptable, hateful and dangerous.” Adidas said they violated the company’s “values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and fairness.”

Adidas and Kanye had collaborated on Adidas Yeezy, known for its expensive sneakers and clothing. The deal, according to New York Times, estimated to be worth billions has been enormously lucrative for both parties. In fact, Adidas said its decision would cause a $246-million hit to its fourth quarter sales.

The move comes after Kanye’s several controversial moves and statements. It all began in early October after he wore a “White Lives Matter” T-shirt in public. He later said, “I can say anti-Semitic s*** and Adidas cannot drop me.” He also threatened on Twitter to “Go death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE.”

However, the controversial rapper isn’t the first superstar to be dropped by sponsors. From time to time, the famous fall afoul of the businesses they are associated with.

Here are some other infamous cases.

Aamir Khan

In November 2015, Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan in an interview revealing that his family contemplated moving abroad in the wake of a string of violent incidents, including the mob lynching of a Muslim man on beef consumption rumours and the burning alive of two Dalit children.

His comments earned him the ire of people on social media as well as that of political leaders.

Following his remarks, online major retail Snapdeal decided not to renew its contract with the superstar. He also ceased to be the ambassador for the government’s ‘Incredible India’ tourism campaign.

Oscar Pistorius

The lucrative sporting career of the ‘Blade Runner’, South African paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius, collapsed in 2013 after he was charged, and later convicted of killing his girlfriend, South African model Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day.

All of his major sponsors cancelled his contracts, including Nike, BT, Thierry Mugler, Oakley, and Ossur.

Pistorius, who claimed he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder, was initially cleared of murder but later convicted on appeal and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Tiger Woods

Sponsors fled from supposedly squeaky clean golf superstar Tiger Woods in 2010 in the wake of revelations that he had cheated on then-wife Elin Nordegren with multiple women.

Woods apologised on live television, saying success had gone to his head.

The scandal cost him endorsement deals with Tag Heuer, Gillette, Accenture, AT&T and Gatorade as well as his marriage.

Nike stuck with the former world number one, however, allowing him to remain the best paid sportsman in the world.

Lance Armstrong

Nike was criticised for continuing to officially support disgraced American cyclist Lance Armstrong in 2012 immediately after the publication of a US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) report showing damning evidence of doping involving him and his team.

It then dropped him a few days later and he was then banned from cycling for life.

He also lost contracts with bicycle brand Trek and brewer Anheuser-Busch, leaving him out millions.

Michael Phelps

Cereals giant Kellogg’s decided not to renew a partnership with record-breaking Olympic champion Michael Phelps after he was suspended for three months in 2009 by USA Swimming after a published photograph appeared to show him smoking marijuana.

Many sponsors, however, stood by him, including apparel manufacturer Speedo and watchmaker Omega.

Sharon Stone

The Basic Instinct star caused a furore in 2008 when she claimed that a massive earthquake in southwest China, which left nearly 88,000 people dead or missing, was bad ‘karma’ for Beijing’s treatment of Tibet.

Stone was referring to a crackdown earlier in Tibet on protests against Chinese rule. Her remark sparked uproar in China, prompting Christian Dior fashion house to drop her from its local skincare ads. Stone later apologised.

Kate Moss

British supermodel Kate Moss was cancelled by a slew of sponsors in 2005 after a British tabloid ran grainy pictures appearing to show her snorting cocaine.

The incident took place at a London recording studio where Moss’ then lover, musician and self-confessed drug addict Pete Doherty was recording tracks with his band Babyshambles.

Global fashion retailer H&M, French fashion house Chanel, Britain’s Burberry and cosmetics company Rimmel all dumped her but after a few years she had again built up a stable of sponsors, including Mango and Versace.

Madonna

In 1989, Pepsi canned an expensive ad featuring Madonna and her hit Like a Prayer over complaints and boycott threats related to religious imagery and eroticism in the song’s official video.

In the video, a scantily-clad Madonna, then 30, dances in front of burning crosses, writhes on the floor of a church and kisses a black Jesus who comes to life. The outrage was felt as far away as Rome, where the Vatican condemned it.

With inputs from AFP

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