Nike tells furious customers 'Be kind, be inclusive' as it responds to backlash over paying trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney to promote sports bras - as customers pledge to boycott the brand

Daily Mail UK ^ | April 7, 2023 | Dan Sales

[Morgana]

Nike today doubled down on using a transgender influencer to promote its female clothes, telling customers calling for a boycott to 'be kind and inclusive'.

The firm's tone-deaf response came amid women's concerns over Dylan Mulvaney, who identifies as female but has not had reassignment surgery.

Mulvaney - who uses the pronouns she or they - was seen in paid social media content dancing in a Nike sports bra and leggings.

It sparked furious calls for a boycott, with Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies leading calls and customers deluging the company with complaints.

Today Nike issued its first response online, declaring it would delete comments it did not judge to be in a spirit of diversity or inclusivity.

It insisted: 'You are an essential component to the success of your community.

We welcome comments that contribute to a positive and constructive discussion.

'Be kind. Be inclusive. Encourage each other. Hate speech, bullying, or other behaviors that are not in the spirit of a diverse and inclusive community will be deleted.'

It is not the first time that Nike has partnered with a trans star in their marketing, in 2021, they launched their 'Play New' campaign with Mara Gomez, who plays in Argentina's professional football league.

The controversy could impact sales, which had received a huge boost in recent months from stars like Lioness Chloe Kelly being seen wearing their products.

She famously whipped off her shirt to celebrate scoring in England's World Cup win, revealing her sports bra with the famous black tick logo.

[9422WMR]

👆🏻I’d give the skid mark company the middle finger but my IPhone update deleted that symbol!
🤬

[Arcadian Empire]

Boycott Nike.

[Halls]

We stopped buying Nike for a couple years now. We will continue to purchase other athletic wear.

[Chewbarkah]

Nike Supports Gender Appropriation! Can Blackface be far behind?

[blackdog]

Be kind and inclusive to Converse, Adidas, and Puma.

Nike put on their shoes. Make them wear them.

[RetiredTexasVet]

I’d go barefoot before I’d wear their shoes.

[TChad]

I threw out all my Nike shoes decades ago, so I can’t do it now. Too bad.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Yeah, we are to be kind and inclusive like that trans female who shot the adults and children dead in the school. She was probably talking kindly to them when she killed them and she sure included people affiliated with the Biblical teaching. Kind and inclusive. If I were you Nike management, I'd double down and push even harder. Try it, you'll probably get your way.

[SisterK]

'be kind and inclusive'

repent
lest you be destroyed

[New Perspective]

New Nike Logo

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Nike tells furious customers 'Be kind, be inclusive'

Embrace reality.

[Betty Jane]

Why does a man pretending to be a 6 year old girl need a bra? Neither persona should be wearing one.

[arthurus]

Be kind, be inclusive, and don’t buy any more Nikes.

[arthurus]

A broken chaotic culture produces a Stalinist or Maoist dictator.

[arthurus]

Lots of women see it including many hard core feminists.

[Paal Gulli]

If you haven’t already figured out that Nike as a corporation is anti-white, anti-American, anti-democratic and anti-liberty, you’re an idiot.