Kanye West Accuses Gap of Copying Yeezy Gap x Balenciaga, Blasts Them on Social Media. Kanye West wants answers. The rapper accused Gap of copying designs from his Yeezy Gap Engineered by Balenciaga collection.

The experiment in corporate disruption that was the partnership between Kanye West and Gap is officially over. Ye, as Mr. West is now known, formally notified Gap via a letter on Thursday that he was terminating their agreement involving the Yeezy Gap apparel line, citing breach of contract.

Gap left him no choice but to terminate their agreement.” Last year, when the deal was announced, the estimated value of Kanye's Yeezy Gap collection was set at $970 million. Gap, in an email, acknowledged that the agreement with Kanye was ending.

In a statement on Tuesday, Gap cited Ye's "recent remarks and behavior" as its reason for yanking Yeezy Gap items from stores and shutting down YeezyGap.com. "Antisemitism, racism and hate in any form are inexcusable and not tolerated in accordance with our values," the apparel chain said.

In January 2022 the brand announced its collaboration with luxury fashion house Balenciaga, with the first collection from that line releasing the following month. Yeezy Gap was terminated two years after its announcement in September 2022 after a series of disagreements between West and Gap executives.

“Our former partner's recent remarks and behavior further underscore why” the decision was made to part ways with the rapper, the company said in a statement. “Antisemitism, racism and hate in any form are inexcusable and not tolerated in accordance with our values.”

Kanye spoke to CNBC's Closing Bell on Sept. 15 about ending business with the company over what he alleged were product pricing issues, lack of Yeezy Gap stores and not meeting contractual commitments. The "I Love It" rapper referred to himself as someone who could've helped Gap out of financial tribulations.

Ye had an estimated net worth of $2 billion in 2022, but lost $1.5 billion when Adidas terminated their partnership. He didn't make it to the 2023 billionaires list, but he still has a large net worth – about $400 million, Forbes says – comprised of cash, real estate and the value of his music.

“Antisemitism, racism and hate in any form are inexcusable and not tolerated in accordance with our values.” Effective today, the company is taking “immediate steps” to remove Yeezy Gap product from their stores and has shut down the Yeezy Gap website, per the statement.

Kanye ended his 10-year collaborative deal with Gap last September after accusing them of not properly fulfilling the terms of their agreement. But before that, the 'Bound 2' hitmaker accused the firm of ripping off his ideas for their own designs.

Founded by Kanye West in 2009, Yeezy was started to mix up the sneaker designs we all know and love. “Yeezys” are classified as adorned sneakers, but Kanye has grown the Yeezy brand to include a clothing and accessory line, while also expanding his footwear line to include shoes like boots and heels.

Gap Inc. is tightening its belt amid continuing losses and disappointing results across its portfolio. While some of the softness was due to consumer pullback on discretionary spending, the company is also struggling with its own failure to produce apparel people want, analysts said.