Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) took to Instagram over the weekend and aired multiple grievances with Adidas, which has produced Yeezy footwear since 2013. Ye’s complaints began with Adidas executive Daniel Cherry III, who has been with the company since January 2022, according to his LinkedIn profile. As a senior vice president and general manager at Adidas, his job is described as working in the “Originals, Basketball, & Partnerships group.”
Prior to working at Adidas, Cherry was a senior vice president of DC Comics. After just 16 months on the job, it was rumored Cherry had plans to leave DC Comics for a role at Yeezy. Instead, Cherry landed at Adidas where, Ye alleged, he was tasked with overseeing Yeezy.
Cherry was first referenced in an Instagram post by Ye back in mid-June when he first brought up allegations Adidas’ newest Adilette sandal was a rip off of his Yeezy Slide. In the post Ye stated, “I’m not talking to DC about this either[.] Kasper come talk to me Happy Monday.”
It appears Ye is upset because Cherry was appointed to the role by CEO Kasper Rørsted without Ye’s consent. It was recently announced Rørsted will step down from his role, three years prior to his contract ending. Ye responded to the news of Rørsted being let go with a NY Times front page mock up reading “Kasper Rørsted also dead at 60.”
In the caption of the Instagram post featuring Cherry’s headshot, Ye wrote, Hi my name is DC I was hired by the recently deceased Kasper without YE’s knowledge to run the most culturally influential brand in the world I got ideas.”
Taking shots at Cherry’s black felt hat, Ye added, “I got ideas. Starting with this hat. They gave me the job over [Adidas creative director] Mark Minor because they love my hat idea.” Making reference to Rørsted’s imminent departure, Ye added, “Damn I miss Kasper.”
Ye also implied he was threatened by Cherry in a meeting. Making reference to Cherry’s alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania, which is located in Philadelphia, Ye wrote, “I know what ya’ll all thinking Ye will never be able to walk the streets of Philly again[.] I love getting threatened in meetings It’s my new favorite thing[.] Thank you Daniel son[.] And don’t try to tell me know one knows him in Philly cause I’m he told me everybody knows him in Philly and I’m concerned about my well being Especially if I see a bunch of people running up wearing these hats.”
Ye finished out his criticisms by stating Cherry once told him (in a conversation that included Lil Uzi Vert) that in the past he would have “taken it to the hands,” meaning he would have struck him. In an Instagram post addressing the moment, Ye wrote, “You aint finna take it to the hands[,] you finna take it to the hads[.] I got my NY Times cover ready for when you get fired.
