Nike Cuts Ties with Colin Kaepernick, Ending $20 Million Partnership 🥾💔📰

Unexpectedly, Nike decides that Kaepernick's brand of wokeness may be too large for their shoes.

 

 

Advertisement

 

 

 

 

Nike, the world's largest sportswear company, announced the end of its $20 million agreement with Colin Kaepernick in a startlingly honest news release this morning. The cause? According to Nike, the former NFL quarterback is "perhaps a tad too woke for our tastes."

 

Since 2018, Kaepernick, who started the contentious NFL kneeling trend, has been closely collaborating with Nike. The collaboration gave rise to enduring advertisements like "Believe in something. even if it requires giving up everything. However, it appears that Kaepernick may have believed "a little too much" for Nike to feel comfortable.

 

Originally used as slang among African Americans, the term "woke" has recently gained popularity. It shows a keen understanding of social and political concerns, particularly those involving race. According to Nike, Kaepernick appears to have elevated wokeness to a new level that is a little too high for the boardroom's comfort.

 

We value passion, said Jim Sneakerhead, a senior executive at Nike. We do. Colin, though, started showing up barefoot to our meetings and speaking out for others without shoes. When our own spokesman promoted forgoing footwear, it became difficult to sell shoes.

 

There is no doubt about Kaepernick's dedication to activism and fairness. However, insiders claim that during a recent picture shoot for Nike's newest collection of football cleats, things took an odd turn.

 

The "Stand for something" photoshoot's goal was to portray Kaepernick brashly upright in contrast to his image as an NFL player who kneels. The discussion, however, was cut short when Kaepernick persisted on "levitating for justice." To picture a floating Kaepernick for a "stand tall"-themed shot, the photographers were perplexed and unclear of what to do.

 

The pivotal event, though, was Kaepernick's suggestion for a brand-new shoe line, "The Bare Necessities." According to Kaepernick, these shoes would be completely invisible, composed of air, and morally ideal as they wouldn't require any materials, labour, or money to produce.

 

 

 

 

Nike's design team battled with the difficulties of producing, well, nothing, despite being obviously environmentally beneficial.

 

The head of Nike's design department, April Lacedup, said, "We tried to make him laugh. "We even staged a phoney 'Bare Necessities' launch ceremony. But we realised we were in over our heads when Colin started talking about "the Emperor's New Shoes."

 

Nike's statement was met with a mixture of surprise, amusement, and, in some circles, acclaim. Some others praised Kaepernick's ongoing dedication to being "extra woke," while others admired Nike's candour.

 

I've always felt that fashion should make a statement, said Instagram fashion influencer Tommy Trendy. However, things could become a little...tangled if your message is "don't wear shoes" while you are marketing a shoe company.

 

Never one to back down, Kaepernick is rumoured to be getting ready to create his own company. According to early accounts, it may go under the moniker "Kaeptain Barefoot," a line of ethereal, invisible shoes for the ultra-woke.

 

In a statement, his representative said, "Colin remains committed to defying expectations and stepping outside of the box. He's up for whatever that entails, whether it's working with industry titans like Nike or flying high above the ground for justice.

 

Conversely, it's said that Nike is considering a collaboration with a less groundbreaking company. According to rumours, they may be in contact with Bob, the man with a sign that reads, "Will stand for shoes," who is standing at the corner of Fifth Street.

 

All we can say is that there are rarely any absolutes in the world of endorsements and alliances. Or, as the case may be, shoe or no shoe. Watch this space for what seems to be a free-spirited and fancy-free future.
 

 

Advertisement

 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 

 

 

Q1: Why did Nike decide to end its collaboration with Colin Kaepernick?

 

A1: According to Nike, the decision was made because Colin Kaepernick's activism and dedication to social and political issues, often referred to as "wokeness," had reached a level that made the company uncomfortable.

 

 

Q2: What does the term "woke" mean in the context of the announcement?

 

A2: In this context, "woke" refers to having a keen awareness of social and political issues, particularly those related to race.

 

 

Q3: How long had Colin Kaepernick been collaborating with Nike?

 

A3: Colin Kaepernick had been collaborating with Nike since 2018.

 

 

Q4: Can you provide an example of a campaign or advertisement resulting from Kaepernick's collaboration with Nike?

 

A4: One of the enduring advertisements resulting from their collaboration was "Believe in something. even if it requires giving up everything."

 

 

Q5: What was the theme of the photoshoot?

 

A5: The theme of the photoshoot was "Stand for something," intended to portray Kaepernick standing upright in contrast to his image as an NFL player who kneels during the national anthem.

 

 

Q6: Why did the photoshoot discussion come to an unusual end?

 

A6: The discussion during the photoshoot was cut short because Kaepernick suggested an unconventional theme where he would "levitate for justice," which puzzled the photographers.

 

 

Q7: What was the concept behind Kaepernick's proposed shoe line, "The Bare Necessities"?

 

A7: Kaepernick's concept for "The Bare Necessities" was shoes that would be completely invisible, composed of air, and ethically ideal as they wouldn't require any materials, labor, or money to produce.

 

 

Q8: How did Nike's design team respond to the idea of producing "The Bare Necessities"?

 

A8: Nike's design team found it challenging to produce a shoe that was essentially "nothing," despite its potential environmental benefits.

 

 

Q9: What is Colin Kaepernick rumored to be doing after his collaboration with Nike?

 

A9: Colin Kaepernick is rumored to be preparing to create his own company, possibly under the name "Kaeptain Barefoot," focusing on a line of ethereal, invisible shoes for the ultra-woke.

 

 

Q10: How did the public react to Nike's decision and Kaepernick's dedication to being "extra woke"?

 

A10: Public reactions to Nike's decision varied, with some praising Kaepernick's dedication and others applauding Nike's candor.