Nike, Inc.

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A transport of Uyghur prisoners at a CCP concentration camp in Xinjiang.[1]

Nike, Inc., is an anti-Trump American multinational maker of footwear, clothing, and sports equipment. Nike, Inc. is reported to use slave labor in Xinjiang for the production of its shoes.[2] Xinjiang is an occupied territory where the Chinese Communist Party has been charged with forced labor and genocide of the Uyghur people.[3] In 2021, Nike CEO John Donahoe stated, "Nike is a brand that is of China and for China.”[4]

It is a big promoter of phony free trade and engages in liberal censorship to prevent criticism of communist China. The company funds athletes who criticize Trump but support China as it infringes on liberty in Hong Kong.

Founded in 1964, the company was originally named "Blue Ribbon Sports" but changed its name to Nike, Inc. in 1971, taking its name from Nike, the Greek goddess of victory. Nike is currently headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon.[5]

According to Forbes magazine, the Nike brand was valued at $19 billion in 2014. This makes it the most valuable sports business.[6]

Betsy Ross flag controversy

Nike released a shoe featuring a Betsy Ross flag called the Air Max 1 Quick Strike Fourth of July trainers in July, 2019, to celebrate Independence Day. The model was discontinued after Colin Kaepernick told Nike he and others found the flag offensive because of its association with slavery. Following the incident, Nike requested that all merchants return the shoes, without stating any reason.[7]

Conservatives protested the decision on social media by destroying their products and writing about why it was a bad decision.[8]

This event has had controversy even with conservatives, as using the American flag on an article of clothing is against the United States Flag Code.[9][10]

Lil Nas X controversy

Rap "musician" Lil Nas X and product manufacturer MSCHF announced a release through Nike on March 29, 2021 (intentionally timed to coincide with Holy Week on the Christian calendar) of a limited-edition athletic shoe (limited to 666 pairs) dedicated to Satan, containing a pentagram, the number 666 and a drop of human blood in each pair.[11] Online reaction to the release of the Satan-themed shoes was overwhelmingly negative, while liberal commenters on Twitter and other social media, in typical fashion, found said reaction amusing and refused to take it seriously. Following the controversy, Nike later announced in a face-saving move that it had no actual part in the manufacture or release of the shoe as well as denying involvement with Lil Nas X and refusing to endorse the shoes, and that it would be suing MSCHF for trademark infringement, trademark dilution, common law trademark infringement, false designation of origin and unfair competition because of the use of Nike's trademarked swoosh logo on the shoes.[12]

In addition, various sports stars, including college football player Trevor Lawrence and retired NBA star Nick Young, publicly denounced the product. MSCHF co-founder Daniel Greenberg claimed that what his company was doing was "legal", justifying his claim by saying that MSCHF had bought the shoes from Nike, did their own artwork on the shoes and sold them for more.[12] Lil Nas X, who is openly homosexual and has admitted to targeting children as his core audience, responded to the controversy by posting a Twitter "apology" that turned out to be a non-apology as it actually showed a clip from a vile, pornographic and narcissistic music video for his homosexuality-themed song "Montero", that showed him giving a "lap dance" to Satan[13] as well as displaying numerous blasphemous Christianity-mocking imagery.[14]

See also

References