Golden State Warrior Steph Curry found himself at odds with Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank after the businessman came out in favor of President Donald Trump. The NBA star just so happens to be sponsored by Plank’s company, signing with Under Armour in 2013 to receive $4 million a year until 2024.
During a CNBC interview on Tuesday, Plank said that President Trump was a “real asset” for the United States’ economy.
“To have such a pro-business president is something that is a real asset for the country,” asserted Plank. “People can really grab that opportunity.”
“He wants to build things. He wants to make bold decisions and be really decisive,” the CEO continued.
“I’m a big fan of people that operate in the world of ‘publish and iterate’ versus ‘think, think, think, think, think,'” Plank added. “So there’s a lot that I respect there.”
The NBA star and President Obama golfing buddy found fault in Plank’s comments, telling a reporter: “I agree with that description – if you remove the ‘et’ from asset.”
Curry contacted higher-ups at the company, apparently applying enough pressure for Under Armour to clarify the CEO’s statements on Trump.
“I spent all day [Tuesday] on the phone,” said Curry, “with countless people at Under Armour, countless people in Kevin Plank’s camp, my team, trying to understand what was going on and where everybody stood on the issue.”
In a released statement, Under Armour said their company backs “fair trade, an inclusive immigration policy that welcomes the best and the brightest and those seeking opportunity in the great tradition of our country, and tax reform that drives hiring to help create new jobs globally, across America and in Baltimore.
“We have teammates from different religions, races, nationalities, genders, and sexual orientations; different ages, life experiences, and opinions,” continued the statement. “This is the core of our company. At Under Armour, our diversity is our strength, and we will continue to advocate for policies that Protect Our House, our business, our team, and our community.”
“Based off the release that [Kevin Plank] sent out this morning, and what he told me last night, that’s the Under Armour that I know,” responded the two-time MVP.
“That’s the brand I know he’s built and one that, as of Wednesday afternoon, is something that I’m standing on,” he said.
“If I can say the leadership is not in line with my core values, then there is no amount of money, there is no platform I wouldn’t jump off, if it wasn’t in line with who I am,” Curry added.
According to Business Insider, Curry is worth a reported $14 billion to Plank’s company.
See the full Under Armour statement, below:
“At Under Armour, our culture has always been about optimism, teamwork, and unity. We have engaged with both the prior and the current administrations in advocating on business issues that we believe are in the best interests of our consumers, teammates, and shareholders. Kevin Plank was recently invited at the request of the President of the United States, to join the American Manufacturing Council as part of a distinguished group of business leaders. He joined CEOs from companies such as Dow Chemical, Dell, Ford, GE, and Tesla, among others to begin an important dialogue around creating jobs in America. We believe it is important for Under Armour to be a part of that discussion.
We have always been committed to developing innovative ways to support and invest in American jobs and manufacturing. For years, Under Armour has had a long-term strategy for domestic manufacturing and we recently launched our first women’s collection made in our hometown of Baltimore, MD. We are incredibly proud of this important first step in the evolution of creating more jobs at home.
We engage in policy, not politics. We believe in advocating for fair trade, an inclusive immigration policy that welcomes the best and the brightest and those seeking opportunity in the great tradition of our country, and tax reform that drives hiring to help create new jobs globally, across America and in Baltimore.
We have teammates from different religions, races, nationalities, genders, and sexual orientations; different ages, life experiences, and opinions. This is the core of our company. At Under Armour, our diversity is our strength, and we will continue to advocate for policies that Protect Our House, our business, our team, and our community.”
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4206422/Steph-Curry-butts-heads-Armour-CEO-Trump.html