<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Conservative activist Robby Starbuck, an American producer and director, is raising new concerns about Harley-Davidson&#8217;s commitment to abandoning diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, arguing that the iconic motorcycle maker&#8217;s new CEO has a long history of supporting such programs.</span></p>
<p>Starbuck published <a href="https://x.com/robbystarbuck/status/2062167155882303663"><span style="font-weight: 400;">research</span></a> on Wednesday examining Harley-Davidson CEO Artie Starrs, who <a href="https://investor.harley-davidson.com/news/news-details/2025/Harley-Davidson-Appoints-Artie-Starrs-as-President-and-Chief-Executive-Officer/default.aspx"><span style="font-weight: 400;">took over the company in October 2025, </span></a>roughly a year after Harley-Davidson backed away from DEI policies following significant consumer backlash.</p>
<p>According to Starbuck, Starrs promoted DEI initiatives during previous leadership roles at Topgolf and Pizza Hut and later hired a chief brand officer with a similar background.</p>
<p>Harley-Davidson announced in 2024 that it would <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/harley-davidson-becomes-latest-company-to-back-away-from-dei-policies"><span style="font-weight: 400;">scale back</span></a> several DEI-related initiatives after facing criticism from customers and activists. The company said at the time that it would focus on its core business and customer base.</p>
<p>Starbuck argues that Starrs&#8217; record raises questions about whether the company is truly moving away from those policies.</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While Starrs was CEO at Topgolf from 2021 to 2025, the company maintained employee resource groups and public initiatives supporting LGBT causes. Starbuck also highlighted social media posts from Starrs&#8217; time at Pizza Hut that promoted diversity and inclusion efforts. </span></p>
<p>Starbuck further pointed to a 2020 educational initiative launched by Pizza Hut and First Book during Starrs&#8217; leadership which<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pizza-hut-partners-with-nonprofit-to-develop-anti-racist-pedagogy-to-empower-educators?author=Jeffrey+Cawood&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Pizza+Hut+Partners+With+Nonprofit+To+Develop+%E2%80%98Anti-Racist+Pedagogy%E2%80%99+To+%E2%80%98Empower+Educators%E2%80%99"> The Daily Wire covered</a> at the time. The program included materials on race, racism, privilege, and equity in classrooms.</p>
<p>More recently, Starbuck criticized Starrs&#8217; decision to hire Marcus Fischer as Harley-Davidson&#8217;s chief brand officer.</p>
<p>Before joining Harley-Davidson, Fischer served as CEO of advertising agency Carmichael Lynch. Starbuck argued that the agency actively promoted DEI initiatives, LGBT advocacy efforts, and diversity-focused employee programs.</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Starbuck reviews several of Fischer’s social media posts, revealing his support for the LGBTQ community, celebrating a diversity achievement for Hilary Clinton, and anticipating DEI conferences such as the National Diversity &amp; Leadership Conference. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Fischer responded to an Instagram post asking what Carmichael Lynch was doing to “ally” with the LGBTQ community. He said the company hosted an in-office drag event, raising $12K for the Family Tree Clinic, which “specializes in LGBTQIA+ healthcare access.”</span></p>
<p>Harley-Davidson disputed suggestions that it is reviving DEI programs.</p>
<p>In a <a href="https://investor.harley-davidson.com/news/news-details/2026/A-Message-from-Harley-Davidson-2026-XCFq9dvqFM/default.aspx">statement</a> responding to Starbuck&#8217;s review, the company said its focus remains &#8220;getting back to the basics: building great motorcycles, strengthening our network of 500+ U.S. dealers, and supporting a workforce that is proud of the product they put on the road.&#8221;</p>
<p>The company also pointed to one of Starrs&#8217; first actions as CEO: restoring Harley-Davidson&#8217;s legacy Bar &amp; Shield logo.</p>
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Robby Starbuck Targets Harley-Davidson’s New CEO Over DEI Record