Adidas intends to release more Yeezys, but without Ye, as early as next year, the company said on its quarterly earnings call on November 9. Adidas began its partnership with Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, in 2013. The nine-year relationship proved to be financially successful but turbulent. Adidas ultimately cut ties with the musician and fashion designer on October 25 in the wake of anti-Semitic comments and a string of public criticisms from him. Ye frequently fought publicly with Adidas management, including in June when he forcefully objected to the company releasing slides that resembled the Yeezy Slide, calling them, "a fake YEEZY made by Adidas themselves." "I'm not standing for this blatant copying no more," he wrote on Instagram reacting to images of the Adidas Adilette slide. Ye has also condemned Adidas for creating "Yeezy Day" without his approval, naming sneaker releases on its own, and not creating physical retail stores devoted to his brand.
On a Wednesday call to discuss quarterly earnings, Adidas Chief Financial Officer Harm Ohlmeyer reiterated the company owns the designs it made in partnership with Ye. "Adidas is the sole owner of all design rights registered to exist products," he said. "We intend to make use of these rights as early as 2023." Pressed during a subsequent Q&A with reporters, Ohlmeyer declined to elaborate on Adidas' plans, beyond repeating the company owns "all the versions and new colorways. It's our IP."
"Nike told me, 'We can't give you royalties because you're not a professional athlete,'" West said in 2013. Ohlmeyer was also asked if Adidas planned to destroy existing merchandise or release it at a later date. "We need to take our time to review what the best options are," Ohlmeyer said. "When the time is right we will be more concrete."
