Did Nike Shoot Itself in the Foot? 'American Sniper' Widow Tayla Kyle Slams Radioactive Kaepernick Ad

Dale Hurd
09-07-2018

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A new report from the technology website Morning Consult shows Nike's image with consumers took a big hit after the company announced a new ad campaign with former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who began the movement of kneeling in protest during the playing of the national anthem before games.  

The campaign, "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything," has been popular with elites but has bombed with Main Street.

 

"Across nearly every demographic, perceptions of Nike's brand have fallen, including among key consumer groups," Morning Consult reported.

The survey of 8,000 Americans found:

  •     Nike's favorability was slashed in half, plunging from +69 favorable impression among consumers before the Kaepernick announcement to only +35 favorable after the announcement.
  •     Nike got no boost among its key demographics: young people, Nike users, and African Americans. It's favorability declined rather than improved.
  •     "Purchasing consideration" is also down. Before the announcement, 49 percent of Americans said they were absolutely certain or very likely to buy Nike products. That figure fell to 39 percent.

After Nike made the announcement, President Trump tweeted, "What was Nike thinking?"

College of the Ozarks, a private Christian school, says it is dropping Nike over the Kaepernick ad.  College President Jerry C. Davis said, "If Nike is ashamed of America, we are ashamed of them."

"American Sniper" widow Tayla Kyle slammed the idea that Kaepernick, who has not been able to get a job in the NFL, has sacrificed much, saying, "At best, that is all Colin sacrificed… some money, and it's debatable if he really lost his career over it."

She adds, "That whole 'sacrificing everything' is insulting to those who really have sacrificed everything."

Along those lines, some have pointed instead to Pat Tillman, the NFL player who left his football career to become a US Army Ranger after 9/11. He was killed in Afghanistan.


 

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About The Author

Dale
Hurd

Since joining CBN News, Dale has reported extensively from Western Europe, as well as China, Russia, and Central and South America. Dale also covered China's opening to capitalism in the early 1990s, as well as the Yugoslav Civil War. CBN News awarded him its Command Performance Award for his reporting from Moscow and Sarajevo. Since 9/11, Dale has reported extensively on various aspects of the global war on terror in the United States and Europe. Follow Dale on Twitter @dalehurd and "like" him at Facebook.com/DaleHurdNews.
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