Colin Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback who infamously began taking a knee during the National Anthem in protest of a nation, is gainfully employed once again. Over the weekend, Nike sparked controversy by releasing news of a partnership with Kaepernick. It’s a wide-ranging endorsement, granting him his own branded line, including shoes, shirts, jerseys, etc.
Most controversial wasn’t even necessarily the partnership with Kaepernick, but how they framed his supposed “struggle.” “Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything” an ad Nike released said, with the text covering the face of the multi-millionaire Kaepernick.
Most were dumbfounded at what exactly Kaepernick gave up, considering that it was him who turned down opportunities to play in the NFL again. Kaepernick apparently would rather play the victim than play football – pushing a bogus narrative that he was being blackballed by the NFL. It’s been a good move for him career-wise, as he’d made a bigger name for himself for his antics off the field than on.
Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything. #JustDoIt pic.twitter.com/SRWkMIDdaO
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) September 3, 2018
President Trump weighed in on the controversy today on Twitter. “Just like the NFL, whose ratings have gone WAY DOWN, Nike is getting absolutely killed with anger and boycotts. I wonder if they had any idea that it would be this way? As far as the NFL is concerned, I just find it hard to watch, and always will, until they stand for the FLAG!”
Just like the NFL, whose ratings have gone WAY DOWN, Nike is getting absolutely killed with anger and boycotts. I wonder if they had any idea that it would be this way? As far as the NFL is concerned, I just find it hard to watch, and always will, until they stand for the FLAG!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 5, 2018
Yesterday he took a softer tone, noting that Nike is a tenant of his who “pays a lot of rent.” However, he probably since realized that Nike ceased renting space from Trump in May for their flagship “Nike Town” store.
Speaking of “getting absolutely killed,” investors do share concerns that could be a reality. Nike’s stock is down about 3% since their partnership with Kaepernick was announced (shedding about $3.75 billion in value), though we don’t know for sure how damaging this is to sales until they report earnings next quarter.
“Nike’s campaign will generate both attention and discussion which is, arguably, one of its central aims,” wrote Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData Retail, in a report yesterday. “However, it is also a risky strategy in that it addresses, and appears to take sides on, a highly politicized issue.” The ad could ultimately alienate customers and turn them into rivals’ products — which is not the purpose of a marketing campaign, Saunders continued.
Nike was talked about nearly 500,000 times on Twitter yesterday according to LikeFolio, which predicts stock market trends based off of social media data, compared to an average of 10,000 mentions per day. While the Kaepernick partnership attracted plenty of attention, 60% of it was negative.
$NKE CONSUMER SENTIMENT: 60% of Nike mentions by consumers over the past day have been negative. pic.twitter.com/6RUxYYePY9
— LikeFolio (@LikeFolio) September 4, 2018
We’ll see how this decision turns out soon enough – but if their fate is like any other companies that have recently attracted controversy for taking liberal stances, it’s unlikely to help. Dicks Sporting Goods suffered a sales decline after publicly backing gun control, Starbucks saw a sales decline after their CEO attacked Trump, Keurig did after they pulled ads from Hannity, and there are countless more examples. Ironically, the reverse never seems to be the case. Chick-fil-A has only gained in both sales and popularity since they were “outed” as a conservative-leaning Christian establishment.
Kipperdink is a no talent, washed up foobaw player whose only claim to fame is through the slime-coated admen who thought this was the slogan of the century. But it’s an ill wind that blows. . . ., just think of the fun advertising classes in colleges across country will have dissecting and mashing the life out of this self-inflicted throat slashing ad campaign.
Has anyone asked Colin who he is expressing fealty towards, with taking a knee? BLM, Antifa, DNC, etc.?
I want to know why the believe in anything no matter what the sacrifice slogan? what exactly did colon kaperdick sacriufuice? it sutre as hell was not his paycheck, he was paid in full even though he did not have to play, he did not sacrifice a chance to be traded because no matter what he would have been fored to actually work and do his job if traded, no one is going to pick him up and then allow him to sit on his self entitled ass and pay him millions. the giant colon did not sacrifice a damn thing in fact in the eyes of anyone who has had to work theitr ass off for a pay check he was rewarded for not doing the job he is paid to do. I hope his she and clothing line are an absolute fail and nike board members and stock holders kick the stupid ass moron who thought the big colon was the face they should be promoting to the curb!
THIS IS AWESOME , i love to see companies that have ZERO brains get absolutely destroyed and it’s just starting , investors should be OUTRAGED!!!!
I don’t even understand why President Trump cares about NIke – the NFL -who cares . I guess he is deflecting what he is really doing by tweeting about these asswipes. His energy is off the hook. With ALL the left wing loons nonsense he is still getting things done. Each day we see more progress and ALL we see from the left is their resistance to Making America Great Again. They are against that idea – Why?
He tends to hit back at people/organizations that hit him first. No other President has done that. I think that is what frustrates those that oppose Trump. They expected to bullying him into silence, but he doesn’t play that way. I think they are not used to someone fighting back.
Krappydick is a total fraud! He didn’t start his B*llsh*t ‘protesting’ until he was benched because he sucked as a quarterback! He’s turned down offers and continues to blame the NFL for his jerkoff attitude. Guess what Colon Krappydick when you’re on the clock you don’t call the shots your boss does. You want to protest do it on your own time! Maybe you shouldn’t be led around by the nose by your muslim girl friend she ran her mouth and you lost your job with the Ravens. Bottom line you suck!!
Wow a company that really means what they advertise. In this case believing in promoting a looser and now it will cost them everything!
as is reported – the “Colin cancer” seems to be spreading.
NFL, ESPN, NBA, US Tennis, Nike.
Arrange to be in bankruptcy court at the same time, you can play Rummy, while you wait. Matters not, I am boycotting you and will be till you are history
Good-bye Nike! You will be like the NFL, down the tubes!
When are people going to learn that this guy is a whining looser????? If Nike wants to support a looser then they can loose also, $3.75 BILLION thus far in just a few days. Will they ever learn???