On Wednesday, Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank on Wednesday capitulated to public and celebrity pressure, issuing a statement in which he backed off comments he had made that were pro-President Trump.
Plank wrote in The Baltimore Sun, “In a business television interview last week, I answered a question with a choice of words that did not accurately reflect my intent. I want to clarify to our hometown exactly our values for which Under Armour and I stand.”
Plank listed the values his company espouses: “We stand firmly for equal rights,” “We believe that immigration is a source of strength, diversity and innovation for global companies based in America like Under Armour,” “Under Armour stands for job creation.”
He continued, “I also know that actions speak louder than words. So here is what we are doing.” He added, “We are opposing the travel ban,” and “We are taking other public positions on legislation around the country in support of the interests of our teammates whenever policy conflicts with human rights.”
Then, of course, he parroted the politically correct mantra: “Our diversity is our strength.”
Plank had given an interview earlier this month in which he stated that Trump was “an asset to the country” and a “pro-business president . . . To have such a pro-business president is something that is a real asset for the country. People can really grab that opportunity. He wants to build things. He wants to make bold decisions and be really decisive.”
“In a business television interview last week, I answered a question with a choice of words that did not accurately reflect my intent.”
Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank
The blowback was immediate; a boycott of Under Amour was initiated; celebrities like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson slammed him; Steph Curry, the two-time reigning NBA MVP, commented on Plank calling trump an asset, saying he agreed with Plank’s statement “if you remove the ‘et’.”