Nike has dived into political matters and addressed some of America’s touchiest topics lately. Nike’s recent ad “Equality” includes stars like Lebron James, Serena Williams, Kevin Durant, and more to express the need for everyone (specifically Americans) to be more open minded and welcoming to other cultures. The main message is that every human deserves to be treated equally and with respect. Most human beings can respect and relate to Nike’s message but actually living by those beliefs and giving people respect and equality can be difficult for many.
After watching the ad I was impressed and thought Nike did a nice job at making African Americans and muslims feel welcomed and supported, but then I scrolled down to the comment section. A large majority of those comments totally disagreed with Nike’s marketing tactics and the message of the “Equality” commercial. Hypocrisy was a big concern with this ad, many commented that Nike should not post ads like “Equality” if they are continuing to mistreat there factory workers and underpay them.
Within the past year Noi Supalai a factory worker in Thailand shared her experience working in a Nike factory. She said Nike refused to pay workers because the factory did not meet a purposed deadline. In the article, Supalai spoke about being mistreated, barely receiving breaks and workers not having enough money to support themselves. For two months employees did not receive pay, so they decided to protest and form a union but by the time all of this was established Nike moved on to another factory to finish their orders.
It is not a secret that many big companies that export their factories overseas to third world countries mistreat and underpay their workers. The real question is does the actions of these big companies carry over to their clientele? Are the celebrities and talent that promote Nike also held responsible for the companies actions and the message they present to the world? Does the hypocrisy also lie on those that support Nike regardless of your relationship with the company?
Check out the ad below and #LetsGetReel! We want to know your views and opinion about this topic! Comment below!
Reel Reality 