Photo Credit: Matt Winklemeyer/Getty Images
Nike’s Just Do It campaign is celebrating 30 years, and they’re using Colin Kaepernick as the poster boy!
Kaepernick helped the athletic brand make the announcement by posting his official 30th anniversary ad on his Instagram account. The ad features a black and white headshot of the former quarterback with the words “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything,” written across his face. Of course, Nike’s signature swoosh and “Just Do It” were pinned on the bottom.
Kaepernick’s post has garnered more 640,000 likes and thousands of comments since it went up, and a majority of the general public is elated. However, a handful of people have spoken out against Kaepernick and Nike, asking that people boycott the brand or burn their already-purchased Nike gear.
Our Soundman just cut the Nike swoosh off his socks. Former marine. Get ready @Nike multiply that by the millions. pic.twitter.com/h8kj6RXe7j
— John Rich (@johnrich) September 3, 2018
John Rich, who makes up one-half of the country duo Big and Rich, tweeted an image of his sound guy holding up a pair of socks with the Nike name and swoosh symbol cut off. Rich captioned the photo by saying, “Our Soundman just cut the Nike swoosh off his socks. Former marine. Get ready @Nike multiply that by the millions.”
Talk radio host and CNN commentator, Ben Ferguson, who’s a known, outright conservative, retweeted Rich’s post, and has since added a few of his own by creating his own 30th anniversary ads featuring “real heroes.”
Hey @Nike this would have been appropriate! pic.twitter.com/iHfZTCasXR
— Ben Ferguson (@benfergusonshow) September 4, 2018
Here ya go @Nike I’ll do consulting on how to do an actual real hero campaign for free! pic.twitter.com/6m0LMIv0pX
— Ben Ferguson (@benfergusonshow) September 4, 2018
Here are some real Heros for you @Nike pic.twitter.com/Zy9wSqH8q3
— Ben Ferguson (@benfergusonshow) September 4, 2018
I support every American’s right to protest whatever they want. However, if you endorse someone who wears #PIGSOCKS that’s where you lose me. If @nike wants their “swoosh” to be associated with calling our police “Pigs” then so be it. I have a right to not buy their products.
— John Rich (@johnrich) September 4, 2018
The posts just get more insulting from there.
Though Ferguson and others are throwing tantrums of rage over Nike’s new ad, Kaepernick isn’t the only face in the campaign. Kaep is repping the active brand alongside Serena Williams, Odell Beckham Jr., and Seattle Hawks linebacker, Shaquem Griffin.
Take that Ferguson, and go ahead, Nike! Keep doing it!
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