American supermodel Bella Hadid, known for her support of the Palestinian cause, has responded to the controversy surrounding her participation in an Adidas shoe campaign. In an Instagram story, Hadid expressed regret and clarified her position on the matter. Adidas faced significant backlash for selecting Hadid for the ad, leading to the campaign's discontinuation.

The controversy stemmed from the timing of the Adidas campaign, which featured the SL 72 "coveted classic" sneakers from the 1970s. It coincided with the 52nd anniversary of the 1972 Munich Olympics, where 12 Israeli coaches and athletes were killed by Palestinian terrorists. The American Jewish Committee criticized Adidas for the campaign, prompting the company to apologize and remove all related content featuring Hadid from their social media platforms.

In her Instagram Stories, Bella Hadid shared her disappointment in the lack of sensitivity shown in the campaign. "I am shocked, I am upset, and I am disappointed in the lack of sensitivity that went into this campaign. Had I been made aware, from the bottom of my heart, I would never have participated," Hadid wrote on July 29.

Hadid explained that she was unaware of the historical connection to the 1972 events before the campaign's release. "I would never knowingly engage with any art or work that is linked to a horrific tragedy of any kind. In advance of the campaign's release, I had no knowledge of the historical connection to the atrocious events in 1972," she wrote.

She admitted that both her team and Adidas should have conducted more research to avoid such a situation. "While everyone's intentions were to make something positive and bring people together through art, the collective lack of understanding from all parties undermined the process. I do not believe in hate in any form, including antisemitism. That will never waiver, and I stand by that statement to the fullest extent," she stated.

Hadid also rejected the notion that Palestine is synonymous with terrorism, emphasizing that the campaign unintentionally highlighted an event that does not represent Palestinian culture. "I am a proud Palestinian woman, and there is so much more to our culture than the things that have been equated over the past week," she wrote.

She affirmed her commitment to advocating for both her people and a world free of antisemitism. "I will forever stand by my people of Palestine while continuing to advocate for a world free of antisemitism. Antisemitism has no place in the liberation of the Palestinian people. I will always stand for peace over violence, any day. Hate has no place here, and I will forever advocate for not only my people but every person worldwide," she added.

Bella Hadid has been vocal in her support for Gaza in the Israel-Hamas conflict and has protested against former President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.