Nike’s done good. The athletics company received queer jeers last week after unveiling the ad above, which many took as a slight to the gays – and, possibly, Larry Craig. Fearing a lavender backlash, Nike has now decided to yank the ads:
[Nike] has pulled some advertisements that appeared to send out anti-gay messages, according to the online edition of The Oregonian newspaper.
…
The Oregonian‘s report published on Saturday quoted a Nike spokesman, Bob Applegate, saying three separate poster and billboard ads would be taken down in Portland, Oregon “as expeditiously as possible.” The ads also appeared in New York City streets and subway tunnels, the paper said.
The Reuters story claims the Nike dust-up first appeared on Gawker, but, if we recall, it was Gay Recluse who first raised the red flag. Regardless of the original outrage, this was definitely a team effort. Go gays!
Amber LeMay
Anti-Gay? That’s what my nieces and nephews call me! Wait, I think that’s spelled Aunty Gay. Whatever. I think Nike caved in too quickly over nothing. There are far worse things being said about us and done to us. Let’s not let ourselves be accused of calling “wolf.” (as opposed to “woof!”)
John In Manhattan
Amber LeMay, yet another shithead apologist for anti-gay advertising. And folks wonder why Gay Republicans exist.
liltomtom.com
that is so sad that all the uptight pretentious queens made a fuss over something that DIDNT EVEN CONCERN THEM!
the whole fucking world doesnt revolve around the gays! fuck!
retrofit71
I’m usually ‘like, chill, homos” about PC shit like this, but this ad is pretty rude..
thatguyfromboston
I still don’t think it was an anti-gay ad. I think it was an anti bad-sportsmanship ad.
Chubarama
Nike’s done good? They allowed the ads to be displayed, and the resulting controversy got them in front of many more eyeballs than they would have been otherwise. Doing good would have been never putting up the ads in the first place.
fri
maybe they could “do good” by not manufacturing their shoes in asian sweatshops by children making pennies an hour.
Jesse
The only problem I have with the ad is the grammar… “ain’t” ISN’T a word. The ad is isn’t anti-gay, it’s anti-having balls in your face when you’re trying to play basketball. I may be a homo, but it doesn’t mean I want some random sweaty junk in my face… I’m probably in the minority on that one. Come on guys, complaining over shit like this is why we’re never going to be taken seriously.
CHURCHILL-Y
Spot on John In Manhattan.
It never seizes to fascinate me the self loathing and hypocrisy prevalent in some so called members of our community. And if they form the basis and the bulk of those in the organizations that are supposed to be advocating for our rights that explains our abysmal failures so far.
The damage might already be done though on the impressionable minds of inner city kids:
“The ads also appeared in New York City streets and subway tunnels”
As if hearing homophobic remarks in their churches and neighborhoods is not enough. Anyways I’m glad I was not along in making a phone call and e-mailing Nike’s headquarters.
Snoodle
I think Nike made the right decision here, saving themselves a lot of backlash, but my god. This whole thing is getting out of hand lately…I don’t see this ad as homophobic, just a poorly thought out ad…
dann
i think it’s pretty plain and simple. the ad DOES have anti-gay sentiment in it. the reason why they chose the catch phrase: “that ain’t right” in that picture, is because (they’re trying to re-emphasize the idea that):
1. it’s not cool to deliberately shove your crotch into your opponent’s face when playing basketball. 2. (and here’s where the copywriters think they’re smart and witty with words-playing) it’s not cool to have someone’s dick that close to your face when you’re a man.
If the ad’s main campaign idea is to promote ‘sportsmanship’, they could’ve used another kind of image that portrays bad sportsmanship. And I have a feeling if the picture can’t be associated with gayness in any kind of way, they wouldn’t chose the catch phrase “that ain’t right”. because there’s no ‘fun’ twist to the ad anymore.
Higgs
“it’s not cool to deliberately shove your crotch into your opponent’s face when playing basketball.”
12 years of playing organized basketball at the jr, high, and college level… and I never knew it WAS cool to shove my crotch in an opponent’s face.
Call me a self loathing apologist, but I really don’t see the “homophobic” context. I must have missed the part in Gay 101 where it was explained that getting tea bagged while being dunked on was protected gay activity and must never be made fun of.
The problem with the “outrage” over this piddly stuff is that the REAL offenses get lost in all the noise. We need to pick our battles, learn to let some stuff slide (was this REALLY gay bashing hate speech or just bad taste), and stop being bitter fags.
Stu
Well said Higgs.
Hz
Preach it, Higgs…
And I’d like to add, just because something is called ‘homophobic’ on some prominent gay blogs, do not suddenly make it so. It makes me sad to know there are so many ditto-heads out there.
Paul Raposo
“We need to pick our battles, learn to let some stuff slide (was this REALLY gay bashing hate speech or just bad taste), and stop being bitter fags.”
Well, Higgs, we did pick our battle–and this ad was one of them. Just because you didn’t feel like playing, doesn’t make us bitter, nor does it make you complacent. As far as being bitter fags; some of us should learn to stop being bitchy fags. Now get your ass back to the plantation.
Mr C
Here we go again with the ABHORRENT Op-Ed from Churchill-Y
He says:The damage might already be done though on the impressionable minds of inner city kids:
“The ads also appeared in New York City streets and subway tunnelsâ€
As if hearing homophobic remarks in their churches and neighborhoods is not enough”
RACE, RACE, RACE!!!!!!
All this fag does is find a reason to blame African Americans for EVERYTHING!
QUEEN why is RACE a fucking issue with you what’s really the problem? because everything you keep blaming on Blacks, other races do as well. Can you show me a WHITE,ASIAN,OR LATINO Church, or Neighborhood that doesn’t say homophobic remarks?
By the way NIKE is owned by a WHITE MALE.
reversion
@Mr C: It’s no use bothering, especially since he gives the white gay-haters more leniency. If the church-shooter was a black man, then he would have surely exploded in his usual flood of nonsense that I wouldn’t even bother reading.
*sigh*
CHURCHILL-Y
Everytime I see your screename it irrates me you foul creature. The day I no longer see it I’ll know my prayers were answered and your ugly ass is where it belongs: in prison. Thug why don’t you follow the example of 777 and afro and disappear. Stop harassing me you geriatric DC thug! I wish I had you in front of me so that I could punch in that disgusting mouth. You’re both a thorn and a boil.
Mr C
Churchill-Y
You said:I wish I had you in front of me so that I could punch in that disgusting mouth. You’re both a thorn and a boil. I am??? Well that’s strange so is your Mother she’s a foul creature also.
DUMB ASS FAG You don’t want none of me TRUST. You’d rather slap your Mother obviously she was fed rabid milk & eggs while having your sick ass.
PUNK ASS BITCH….
To the rest of you all SORRY. But this idiot gets under my skin.
JINM
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