Adidas AG has launched an investigation into the allegations of inappropriate behavior by Kanye West after the German sporting goods maker ended its partnership with the rapper and fashion designer last month.
Adidas began the investigation after receiving an anonymous letter from an anonymous source who is now known as Ye.
The investigation follows a report by Rolling Stone magazine that detailed incidents of inappropriate behavior by Ye toward staff and prospective employees. More than two dozen former Yeezy and Adidas employees were interviewed by Rolling Stone.
The magazine said former members of the team sent an anonymous letter to Adidas in which they said senior leaders at the company were aware of Ye's behavior but had turned a blind eye and turned their moral compass off. An Adidas spokesman said in a statement to Reuters that the accusations made in an anonymous letter are not true.
We take these allegations very seriously and have taken the decision to launch an independent investigation immediately to address the allegations. Ye couldn't be reached for comment immediately. The Financial Times first reported on Thursday about the investigation.
According to the Financial Times, Germany's third-largest asset manager, Union Investment, wrote to Adidas on Thursday asking for more information about the claims.
Union Investment didn't respond immediately to Reuters' request for comment.
In recent months, Ye has been embroiled in controversy by publicly ending corporate tie-ups and outbursts on social media against other celebrities. His Twitter and Instagram accounts were restricted, with the social media platforms removing some of his posts that users condemned as antisemitic.