American-Palestinian supermodel Bella Hadid has responded to the recent controversy that surrounded her SL72 campaign with Adidas that commemorated the 52nd anniversary of the Munich Olympics.

The campaign was heavily criticized for Adidas’ choice to feature a Palestinian woman in relation to an event in the 1972 Munich Olympics that was marred by violence from a Palestinian group.

Hadid said on her Instagram stories that the Adidas campaign was “insensitive”.

“For those of you who do not know my heart, I want to make sure you’re hearing directly from me about my recent campaign with adidas. I would never knowingly engage with any art or work that is linked to a horrific tragedy of any kind,” she said.

“In advance of the campaign’s release, I had no knowledge of the historical connection to the atrocious events in 1972. I am shocked, I am upset, and I am disappointed in the lack of sensitivity that went into this campaign,” she added.

Bella Hadid also said the campaign “unintentionally highlighted an event that does not present who we are” – in reference to accusations of anti-Semitisim and terrorism that shrouded her pro-Palestine activism.

“Palestine is not synonymous with terrorism and this campaign unintentionally highlighted an event that does not present who we are,” she says, adding that she is a “proud Palestinian woman” and that ‘”there is much more to our culture than the things that have been equated over the past week.”

“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,” she continues.

Global sportswear giant Adidas issued a public apology to its partners, including Hadid, following the ensuing backlash.

An Adidas representative acknowledged the controversy surrounding the SL72 campaign in a statement to TMZ.

“Connections continue to be made to the terrible tragedy that occurred at the Munich Olympics due to our recent SL72 campaign. These connections are not meant and we apologize for any upset or distress caused to communities around the world,” the representative stated.

The representative further stated, “We also apologize to our partners, Bella Hadid, A$AP Nast, Jules Koundé, and others, for any negative impact on them and we are revising the campaign.”

Hadid is said to have been exploring her legal options after Adidas removed her from the campaign.

She is reportedly dissatisfied with Adidas’s handling of the situation, alleging that the company has not taken adequate public accountability, according to reports from the celebrity tabloid website TMZ.