Nike's Use Of Kaepernick Gets Slammed By Trump & More
Yesterday, news broke that ex-NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick was announced as the face of the Nike 'Just Do It' campaign's 30th anniversary, which has sparked a major backlash. Everyone from President Trump to the National Association of Police Organisations has an opinion on the move by Nike, with some even boycotting the brand and burning their Nike products.
The criticism for the ad comes as the slogan Kaepernick is saying in the ad - "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything." - which references his ongoing battle with the NFL, accused of conspiring against the QB due to his on-field protests against police brutality and decision to kneel during the national anthem which some consider disrespectful to the flag.
President Trump says the choice of Kaepernick sends a "terrible message". He thinks that "maybe there's a reason for them doing it ... but I think as far as sending a message, I think it's a terrible message and a message that shouldn't be sent. There's no reason for it."
His reaction comes as no surprise, he publically referred to NFL players that kneel for the anthem as "sons of bitches" and said they should be fired.
A huge online backlash including the hashtag #nikeboycott made the rounds, especially after the National Association of Police Organisations filed the below letter.
Burning my last pair of Nikes! Why are so many companies Anti-American? pic.twitter.com/k2gQdqwsnd
— 💜Snowhite🇺🇸 (@Snowhitemy4b) 4 September 2018
.@Nike how you going to endorse @Kaepernick7 a person that advertises socks with cops portrayed as pigs, a person that hasn’t played NFL for 2 years, well it’s good I never really spent money on your brand but to the money I did, here they are pic.twitter.com/oHFVgDnR4K
— Sebastian Blanco (@thasaviorBlanco) 3 September 2018
In addition, Nike's stock price dropped around 4% after the reveal, which could make a huge difference in its war against adidas in North America. That said, America makes up less than half of Nike's business, so who knows what level of difference this will make.
Several celebs and athletes including Tom Brady have publically supported the ad, and so has the NFL. They have released a very possible statement, saying: “The National Football League believes in dialogue, understanding and unity. We embrace the role and responsibility of everyone involved with this game to promote meaningful, positive change in our communities. The social justice issues that Colin and other professional athletes have raised deserve our attention and action.”
Plies also supported Nike's decision in a video, where he said: “To everybody who mad at Nike 'bout Colin Kaepernick: You know what I'm finna do? I'm finna to wear my Nikes today. Yeah, my Bron Bron Nikes today. You mad at Nike. You big mad. Why you mad at Nike? Nike ain’t did nothing to you. Who is you? You ain’t nobody. Do it. Just like Nike said, ‘Just Do it.’ You need to put your shades on and chill.”