The famous shoe company, Nike, has decided to pull their new sneakers off the shelves that they planned to release in honor of the 4 of July holiday. They were releasing these red, white, and blue version of the Air Max 1s. What made them pull these sneakers so abruptly? The shoe design included a description of the Betsy Ross flag, which brings back memories of slavery.
NFL quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, who is the face of Nike’s “Just Do It” 30th Anniversary campaign, made sure he brought to Nike’s attention of his concerns of the sneaker being offensive. Kaepernick, who played for the San Francisco 49ers until the end of the 2016 season, is known for his activism on the football field kneeling during the national anthem, to protest police brutality and racial inequality. With Collin’s concerns voiced, Nike pulled the sneakers.
A statement sent to CBS News on Monday was given from Nike saying that it, “has chosen not to release the Air Max 1 Quick Strike Fourth of July as it featured the old version of the American flag”
Nike has received a lot of criticism and blows for taking the sneakers back. On Tuesday, July 2, Nike has then said to CBS News that it is “proud of its American heritage and our continuing engagement supporting thousands of American athletes including the US Olympic team and US soccer teams…….”
What do you think of this Betsy Ross flag embellished shoe? Did Nike do right by pulling the sneakers? Let us know in the comments below.
