Kaepernick Becomes Face of Nike, Controversy Follows
Kaepernick Becomes Face of Nike, Controversy Follows
Athletic wear giant Nike recently announced that athlete Colin Kaepernick would be one of the faces of their 30th-anniversary advertisement campaign of the now famed slogan, “Just Do It”. This decision by Nike was met with backlash because of Kaepernick’s choice to kneel during “The Star-Spangled Banner” before his football games to protest ongoing police brutality in the country.
Responses to the advertisement couldn’t be more split. Many supporters and critics of Kaepernick took to the internet to have their say on the matter, some critics even going to the lengths of filming themselves burning their Nike items over the advertisement. The critics’ disapproval stems from the belief that Kaepernick’s refusal to stand during the National Anthem is unpatriotic. Since Nike is aligning themselves with Kaepernick, many critics chose to boycott the company altogether. The supporters, on the other hand, are proud of Nike for aligning themselves with the face of the Black Lives Matter movement against police brutality.