Amid the current Kanye West controversy, pro athletes Aaron Donald and Jaylen Brown have announced that they are leaving Donda Sports. This comes after Donda Sports founder Kanye West made Anti Semitic remarks. Donald first posted to social media that he was cutting ties with the company and minutes later Brown followed up with his own comments about leaving the company. Earlier Tuesday, appeal company Adidas also cut ties with the famous rapper over his comments about Jewish people. There have been several companies that have cut ties with West completely with more likely to follow.
Aaron Donald and Jaylen Brown have ended their relationships with Kanye West’s Donda Sports in the aftermath of the rapper’s antisemitic remarks, they announced in separate statements.https://t.co/32CycRDibG pic.twitter.com/NwlCNi97bJ
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) October 25, 2022
Aaron Donald and Jaylen Brown both cited the comments as their reason for their departure and denounced them in their separate statements.
Aaron Donald’s statement includes the following: “The recent comments and displays of hate and anti-Semitism are the exact opposite of how we choose to live our lives and raise our children. We find them to be irresponsible and go against everything we believe in as a family.”
Jaylen Brown initially denounced the remarks on Monday but, decided to stay with the company. In a statement on Tuesday explaining his change of heart and decision to leave Donda Sports he said the following: “In the past 24 hours, I’ve been able to reflect and better understand how my previous statements lack clarity in expressing my stance against recent insensitive public remarks and actions. For that, I apologize and in this, I seek to be as clear as possible. I have always, and will always, continue to stand strongly against anti-Semitism, hate speech, misrepresentation, and oppressive rhetoric of any kind.”
Partnerships/deals/relationships Kanye West had three weeks ago that he no longer has today: Gap, Balenciaga, Vogue, JP Morgan, Def Jam, CAA, Adidas. Aaron Donald and Jaylen Brown have left Donda Sports. A completed documentary has also been shelved.
— Chris Palmer (@ChrisPalmerNBA) October 25, 2022
Kanye West has had many controversial statements, but his Anti Semetic remarks were way past the line for these companies as well as Aaron Donald and Jaylen Brown. The two professional athletes were the premiere names for Donda Sports and it is unclear where it will go now without them.
