Kaepernick: Quarterback is the face of new Nike campaign

[davieG]

Good marketing or egg on face in waiting.

 

Colin Kaepernick, the quarterback who protested against racial injustice and police brutality by kneeling during the US national anthem, is the face of a new Nike advertising campaign.

Kaepernick, 30, first protested by sitting during the national anthem in August 2016, later opting to kneel.

Other players followed suit, leading to criticism from President Donald Trump.

Nike described him as "one of the most inspirational athletes of this generation".

Gino Fisanotti, Nike's vice-president of brand for North America, told ESPN: "He has leveraged the power of sport to help move the world forward."

Colin Kaepernick: From one man kneeling to a movement dividing a country
Kaepernick, who has received Amnesty International's highest honour, has been without a team since he opted out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers in March 2017.

He has filed a grievance against NFL team owners he claims conspired not to hire him because of his protests, and on Thursday it was ruled that case can go to trial.

Nike's new advertising campaign, celebrating the 30th anniversary of its 'Just Do It' slogan, also includes ads featuring tennis star Serena Williams, New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr and Seattle Seahawks rookie linebacker Shaquem Griffin.

More here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/american-football/45403702

 

Colin Kaepernick: Nike suffer #justburnit backlash over advertising campaign

 Nike advert featuring Colin Kaepernick
Nike's new advertising campaign, which features Colin Kaepernick, celebrates the 30th anniversary of its 'Just Do It' slogan
Critics have burned Nike trainers and clothing in protest at Colin Kaepernick's appointment as the face of the brand's new advertising campaign.

The American football quarterback, 30, protested against racial injustice and police brutality by kneeling during the US national anthem.

In announcing the deal, Nike said he was "one of the most inspirational athletes of this generation".

But opponents took to social media, promising to destroy Nike products.

On Twitter, they hit out at the deal using the hashtag #JustBurnIt - a play on Nike's slogan 'Just Do It' - which trended on Twitter alongside #BoycottNike.

According to social media analysis site Spredfast, there were more than 800 tweets using the hashtag #JustBurnIt in a matter of hours on Tuesday morning.

Andrew H. Scott, the mayor of Kentucky city Coal Run, said he was "officially done" with Nike and the NFL and asked Nike to cancel an order, while several videos showed Nike trainers being burned.

Country singer John Rich tweeted a photo of a pair of Nike socks with the brand's swoosh logo cut off.

However, another Twitter user Teri Shockey countered: "To everyone who is planning to #JustBurnIt, might I suggest you donate your @Nike merch instead? Plenty of people in need, including vets and families of active duty military, would be more than grateful to wear it. #JustDoIt"

 

More here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/american-football/45407340

 

Will you buy or burn Nike products?

 

[Samilktray]

Loved seeing so many pissy red necks losing there mind on twitter over this last night

[StanSP]

some melt decided to burn their Nike trainers while they were still wearing them

[StanSP]

also am I being really dumb but why are so many people in uproar towards Nike? 

 

Nike are supporting a player who is not happy with racial injustice/police brutality.

 

So people decide to burn their Nike products? What's the logic there?

[KingsX]

10 minutes ago, davieG said:

Will you buy or burn Nike products?

 

Neither.  As long as they don't have the LCFC kit contract, I'm not tempted in the slightest to spend on "meh" third-world merchandise where half the price is their logo.

[Guest MattP]

Couldn't care less, wouldn't be seen dead in Nike anyway.

[indierich06]

'Boycotting' a company by burning products they've already paid for. They're clever, this lot.

[Alf Bentley]

16 minutes ago, StanSP said:

some melt decided to burn their Nike trainers while they were still wearing them

 

A "melt" quite literally after that, presumably...

[davieG]

5 minutes ago, indierich06 said:

'Boycotting' a company by burning products they've already paid for. They're clever, this lot.

It's just the latest resurrected way of protesting not sure about the 1st to use this but the Nazi's did for any books that didn't support their ideologies the Americans did it to Beatles stuff after John Lennon said they were more popular than Jesus all seems a bit silly and counter productive.

Wonder how long it will take them to forget and start buying Nike stuff again?

[Captain...]

It is odd the way some people’s moral compass swings. Child/slave labour, exploiting corruption in foreign labour markets to make overpriced poor quality goods - that’s fine. Using a sportsman who stood up for racial inequality to front their campaign - burn my fvcking shoes.

 

 

[ajthefox]

I'm surprised Nike have done it to be frank - it's obviously a massive issue over there and there are an awful lot of people who are dead set against Kaepernick and every other player who kneeled with him subsequently. I feel obliged to give them some kudos but it's obviously just publicity to them at the end of the day and I don't suspect they give a toss either way.

 

I'm pleased that Kaepernick is getting some promotion given the way he has been rejected by the NFL, or rather the clubs, in spite of his talent. He's didn't really build on the season he had leading up to SB49 like some thought he would but there's no way he should be without a team because he knelt down for a fvcking anthem.

[Finnegan]

16 minutes ago, Captain... said:

It is odd the way some people’s moral compass swings. Child/slave labour, exploiting corruption in foreign labour markets to make overpriced poor quality goods - that’s fine. Using a sportsman who stood up for racial inequality to front their campaign - burn my fvcking shoes.

 

 

 

 I can't find it now but there was a pretty good reddit meme earlier on these lines, yes.

 

Did make me laugh to be honest.

[Strokes]

51 minutes ago, indierich06 said:

'Boycotting' a company by burning products they've already paid for. They're clever, this lot.

Ha, I burnt my wife’s trainers though.

[StanSP]

39 minutes ago, ajthefox said:

I'm surprised Nike have done it to be frank - it's obviously a massive issue over there and there are an awful lot of people who are dead set against Kaepernick and every other player who kneeled with him subsequently. I feel obliged to give them some kudos but it's obviously just publicity to them at the end of the day and I don't suspect they give a toss either way.

 

I'm pleased that Kaepernick is getting some promotion given the way he has been rejected by the NFL, or rather the clubs, in spite of his talent. He's didn't really build on the season he had leading up to SB49 like some thought he would but there's no way he should be without a team because he knelt down for a fvcking anthem.

pretty sure they do give a toss . 

[Unabomber]

Why are people mad that this guy protested against police brutality/racism? I need to keep up. And by being mad they are burning things they already paid for as if nike would care? Just more advertisement for them. Almost makes me want to buy Nike things, so fair play to them.

[Nalis]

Didnt realise there was a thread on this here but already posted what I felt about this in the 'what grinds my gears' thread.

 

Basically Nike are a using an emotive issue as a tool/puppet to boost their own bs 'we care' profile, jumping on a bandwagon and claiming corporate social responsibility when its really only about pure marketing and boosting sales.

[StanSP]

6 minutes ago, Nalis said:

Didnt realise there was a thread on this here but already posted what I felt about this in the 'what grinds my gears' thread.

 

Basically Nike are a using an emotive issue as a tool/puppet to boost their own bs 'we care' profile, jumping on a bandwagon and claiming corporate social responsibility when its really only about pure marketing and boosting sales.

and how many mugs have fallen for it in terms of burning products they've already brought ?! Nike already have their money. Nike literally couldn't give two shits about it after the money has been taken in. People are far too dumb by burning their own purchases  

[ScouseFox]

25 minutes ago, Unabomber said:

Why are people mad that this guy protested against police brutality/racism? I need to keep up. And by being mad they are burning things they already paid for as if nike would care? Just more advertisement for them. Almost makes me want to buy Nike things, so fair play to them.

cos a lot of americans think the reputation of their national anthem and their flag is a lot more important than the lives and basic human rights of black people 

Edited 4 September 2018 by ScouseFox

[Unabomber]

8 minutes ago, ScouseFox said:

cos a lot of americans think the reputation of their national anthem and their flag is a lot more important than the lives and basic human rights of black people 

Man Americans are nuts 

[Nalis]

10 minutes ago, StanSP said:

and how many mugs have fallen for it in terms of burning products they've already brought ?! Nike already have their money. Nike literally couldn't give two shits about it after the money has been taken in. People are far too dumb by burning their own purchases  

Oh yeah, not denying the guys burning nike stuff are idiots alright. I'm agree with CK's stance, my comment was more about how Nike use the issue as marketing tool. Sadly they arent the first and wont be the last.

[Samilktray]

Probably gonna buy every bit of the Kaepernick range whenever Nike release it tbh 

[The Doctor]

I really love the irony of people exercising their right to peacefully protest at a promotional campaign being fronted by a guy they absolutely hate for exercising his right to peacefully protest. It's just delicious.

[ajthefox]

1 hour ago, StanSP said:

pretty sure they do give a toss . 

Post below sums up what I meant.

 

1 hour ago, Nalis said:

Didnt realise there was a thread on this here but already posted what I felt about this in the 'what grinds my gears' thread.

 

Basically Nike are a using an emotive issue as a tool/puppet to boost their own bs 'we care' profile, jumping on a bandwagon and claiming corporate social responsibility when its really only about pure marketing and boosting sales.

They aren't doing this because of any real desire to right societal wrongs and they knew full well it would cause a stir to promote themselves with CK. They've done exactly what they set out to.

[Guest MattP]

Does anyone come out of this well?

 

Nike again have a light shone upon their working practices of using child labour to make their products (I guess some injustices are bigger than others) and mass tax avoidance as revealed in the Panama papers.

 

Kaepernick has apparantly "sacrificed all" - seemingly forgetting the fact he's now being paid millions again a few years after losing his starting place to cack like Blaine Gabbert.

 

Some Americans yet again show what complete morons they are by burning things they have already paid for in some kind of warped protest.

 

The whole thing is as undignified as it can get. 

Edited 5 September 2018 by MattP

[Finnegan]

Kaepernick comes out if it pretty ****ing well, Matt, yes. How can he not? 

 

I'm no real fan of rich sportsmen being paid millions to help cynical companies make billions off exploited foreign labour, over charging for products that cost 50p to make in awful conditions. 

 

But Kaepernick's message was never that this was bad. I don't see any hypocrisy in him or his actions, he could be a raging libertarian capitalist for all I know and might think Nike are a perfectly ethical vehicle to promote social change. 

 

He gets to promote his message again, gets paid, gets the whole world buzzing just in time for the kick off of the new season, gets validated by the biggest producer of sporting goods on the planet? 

 

Obviously, if his message was "there's too much money in football, won't someone think of kids in poor communities" and he took payment for this campaign then fair enough. 

 

The indignity is with the idiots that have completely fallen in to the trap of exposing themselves as completely outright racists, tbh.