Kanye West Angers Muslims After Appropriating Angel Names For Latest YEEZYs
Image via Everett Collection / Shutterstock.com
Kanye West and adidas have been accused of “making a mockery” of Islam when West named two of his trainers after the religion’s angels of judgment and death.
West unveiled its latest line of sneakers, called YEEZY Boost 350 V2 Israfil and YEEZY Boost 350 V2 Asriel. Social media users were angered and demanded the shoes be renamed immediately.
Israfil is one of the four archangels in Islam, and is often depicted to blow a horn when the day of judgment arrives. Asriel is the angel responsible for transporting the souls of the deceased after they have passed on.
“This is disrespectful to millions of Muslims for the name of Angel to be associated with this shoe,” one angry user tweeted.
“Horrible name choice for a shoe. Israfil is one of the four archangels in Islam. adidas—you should have done your homework. Not too late to fix this,” another chimed in.
A petition has been established online, calling for adidas to change the name of the sneakers. “It has come to the attention of the Global Muslim community that adidas has allowed the production of a shoe that is named after an archangel in Islam,” it reads.
“We request Muslims to boycott adidas products until it ceases the production of this commodity,” it continues.
YEEZY BOOST 350 V2 ISRAFIL. AVAILABLE AUGUST 22 IN ASIA PACIFIC, EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA AT https://t.co/SNOmpVaWg8, ON THE ADIDAS APP IN SELECT COUNTRIES, AND IN SELECT ADIDAS STORES. pic.twitter.com/TqUvKf2ion
— adidas Originals (@adidasoriginals) August 17, 2020
Horrible name choice for a shoe. Israfil is one of the four archangels in Islam. The one Muslims believe will blow into the trumpet to signal Qiyamah (the Day of Judgment), in Jerusalem.
— Abed A. Ayoub (@aayoub) August 18, 2020
.@adidas - you should have done your homework. Not too late to fix this. #ComeOnMan https://t.co/e0aRhyhWo5
RT and ask @adidasoriginals to change the name of the new Yeezy boost 'Israfil'. The name 'Israfil' has been taken from Islam in which one of the most important Angels is Israfil. This is disrespectful to millions of Muslims for the name of Angel to be associated with this shoe. https://t.co/mJ0L3wfngy
— muslim daily ❁ (@BirdsOfJannah) August 19, 2020
Very disrespectful. Adidas is disrespecting Islam. Israfil is one of the four angels in Islam. Shame on @adidasoriginals and @kanyewest
— Tariqul Islam Jewel (@TariqulJewel) August 22, 2020
Dear @adidas I am gonna STOP buying and using your products if those Kanye West's newest shoes' names aren't changed because it IT DOES NOT RESPECT Islam. #ShameOnKanyeWest #ShameOnYeezy
— saymyname (@SeptianaTri3) August 23, 2020
Latest controversy#KanyeWest new shoe named 'Israfil'
— Azra_H (@azra_hhh) August 19, 2020
In #Islam, Israfil is known to be the angel that will blow a trumpet to mark the ultimate end of the world.
Naming a shoe after a significant Angel of God, in the Islamic religion, is highly disrespectful.@MuslimAdvocates pic.twitter.com/D2s8qhkGwe
@adidas released the name of the new Yeezy Boost “Israfil”.The name of an angel in Islam.This is actually pathetic and disgusting. pic.twitter.com/U7qa8NVBAN
— Mayada🦋 (@ProfessionalNag) August 19, 2020
[via NME, opening image via Everett Collection / Shutterstock.com]