Over the past year, numerous companies have placed themselves in the middle of a culture war and taken the side of radical gender theory and leftism, dumping millions of dollars into radical LGBTQ groups such as the Trevor Project and the Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). These corporations’ endorsement of life-altering gender procedures and promotion of biological men in women’s spaces have sparked outrage and calls for boycotts from many conservatives this year, but now, the pro-Left companies are looking to gain favor back with shoppers during the Black Friday shopping weekend. 
Popular brands and companies like Target, Native, Harry’s, Hershey’s, Nike, and Apple have all pushed transgender ideology onto customers over the past year. And this week, these companies will beckon shoppers to their doors and websites in hopes of cashing out for the holiday season. But along with all the deals offered by these companies, this Black Friday comes a bevy of woke ideas being crammed down consumers’ throats. 
Here are the popular Black Friday companies that will likely offer deals this holiday weekend as they continue to push radical gender theories and even target children with some of their Pride-themed merchandise:
Target
The Minneapolis-based retail giant went all in on Pride Month earlier this year, even featuring LGBTQ-themed products aimed at children in the front of its stores. Among Target’s Pride-themed products featured on store shelves over the summer were a children’s swimsuit with a tag reading “thoughtfully fit on multiple body types and gender expressions” and LGBTQ-themed books such as “The Pronoun Book” and “Bye Bye Binary.” The retail giant also featured an adult “Pride” collection, which included “tuck-friendly” swimsuits for men who identify as women to tuck their genitals, a t-shirt with the words “Queer Queer Queer Queer,” and a hoodie reading “Not A Phase.”
The corporation also <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/05/26/target-gave-2-1m-to-group-that-urges-schools-to-hide-kids-gender-from-parents/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">donated</a> over $2 million to GLSEN, a radical LBGTQ organization that encourages children to hide their gender changes from parents. “We&#8217;re proud to partner with GLSEN for more than a decade, working to ensure students have a safe place to learn. Target annually supports GLSEN and its mission to create affirming, accessible and antiracist spaces for LGBTQIA+ students,” Target <a href="https://corporate.target.com/sustainability-governance/our-team/diversity-equity-inclusion/team-members-guests/lgbtqia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">states</a> on its website. 
Target came under fire again this week for selling Pride-themed nutcrackers and disabled Santa ornaments. The account End Wokeness shared images of an ornament of a black Santa Claus in a wheelchair displayed on a Target shelf. The account also highlighted a Pride nutcracker figurine wearing a Pride-striped hat and holding a Progress Pride flag. The product description encourages buyers to “show your love and support for the LGBTQIA+ community” by displaying this decoration. Both items are available for sale on Target’s website.
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Target outdid itself this year for Christmas <a href="https://t.co/F0YpLmOrkt">pic.twitter.com/F0YpLmOrkt</a>
&mdash; End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) <a href="https://twitter.com/EndWokeness/status/1724590949899092243?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Target has already pushed a huge marketing campaign to get the word out about its Black Friday deals, landing articles in major national news outlets and shopping sites. The company is hoping to offset two straight negative earnings reports after it faced blowback for its Pride-themed merchandise. 
Harry’s
After pulling its advertising with The Daily Wire over comments from host Michael Knowles on transgenderism it deemed “inexcusable,” razor company Harry’s has only dug itself deeper into the pit of radical gender theory. In June of 2022, for Pride Month, Harry’s partnered with a woman who identified as a man to sell a razor set to men. The razor company <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CfWzJnspHuW/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;ig_rid=d3a5cbee-ee9f-497f-ab25-355a7225eb64">said</a> 100% of its profits for the razor set would go to the Trevor Project, a radical LGBTQ organization that encourages minors to undergo life-altering gender procedures. 
“Celebrating my first Pride with facial hair!” Luke Wesley Pearson said at the time. “@harrys and their sibling brand @meetflamingo worked with @ohnilisle, an artist from the LGBTQ+ community, to design this year&#8217;s Face &amp; Body Shave Set: It includes one razor handle, a Harry&#8217;s razor for your face, and a Flamingo razor for your body. And the best part? 100% of profits from the set are donated to @trevorproject. Feeling handsome and proud to be me every day of the year.”
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Harry’s Razors partnered with a “trans man” (female) to promote their razor set
100% of the profits from this set go to the Trevor Project, which promotes gender surgeries for minors <a href="https://t.co/Sb6ZbBT0GA">pic.twitter.com/Sb6ZbBT0GA</a>
&mdash; End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) <a href="https://twitter.com/EndWokeness/status/1688015091088707584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Then in June of this year, Harry’s <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CtRozcxssXK/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;ig_rid=5d4de2a6-6d59-4361-927b-d6c215050a31" target="_blank" rel="noopener">donated</a> more money to the Trevor Project, with $5 from every “Pride Shave” set sold going to the organization. 
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Hershey’s
The chocolate company faced calls for a boycott earlier this year after <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/boycott-hersheys-trends-on-twitter-as-brand-features-man-who-identifies-as-trans-in-international-womens-day-campaign" target="_blank" rel="noopener">promoting</a> a biological man as part of its International Women’s Day celebration. Fae Johnstone was one of five people featured in the campaign, which used the Hershey’s SHE bar to “shine a light on the women and girls who inspire us every day.”
“We can create a world where everyone is able to live in the public space as their honest and authentic selves. See the women changing how we see the future,” Johnstone said in a promotional video.
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.<a href="https://twitter.com/Hersheys?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Hersheys</a> is putting the face of a trans-&quot;woman&quot; on chocolate bar wrappers with &quot;HerShe&quot; highlighted in honor of international women&#39;s day. Hershey&#39;s is erasing women. <a href="https://t.co/JzRkAtwTdO">pic.twitter.com/JzRkAtwTdO</a>
&mdash; Leftism (@LeftismForU) <a href="https://twitter.com/LeftismForU/status/1631072298806509568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The backlash to the pro-trans marketing campaign led to The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nuts-or-nutless-the-daily-wire-launches-jeremys-chocolates-after-hersheys-trans-farce-insults-customers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">launching</a> its own chocolate company, Jeremy’s Chocolate, which <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jeremys-chocolate-sells-half-a-million-chocolate-bars-within-days-of-launch">sold</a> over half a million chocolate bars within days of going live. 
Native
Like Harry’s and Hershey’s, Native has partnered with a trans-identifying person multiple times to promote its product earlier this year. Last year, biological male and trans-identifying social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney partnered with the company and the Trevor Project to “share [his] story.” Mulvaney <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@dylanmulvaney/video/7109630752328830251?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> he partnered with Native mainly because it was partnering with the Trevor Project and donating $50,000 to the radical LGBTQ organization. Earlier this year, Mulvaney made another <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@native/video/7198272152368336171" target="_blank" rel="noopener">video</a> for Native deodorant to boost the company’s gummy-bear scented deodorant. Months later, Mulvaney would set another company ablaze in controversy after he partnered with Bud Light and received a specialized beer can with his face on it. 
Nike
Less than a week after Mulvaney’s Bud Light partnership blew up on social media, the trans-identifying influencer <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/stop-giving-them-your-money-nike-partners-with-dylan-mulvaney-ignites-fury-online" target="_blank" rel="noopener">appeared</a> in a paid social media video dancing in Nike women’s gear. In the sponsored Nike ad, Mulvaney showed off women’s leggings and a sports bra. Mulvaney captioned his Nike gear post, “Home for a moment and leaning into cozy workout wear life with [Nike Women]’s newest Zenvy leggings and Alate bra! They’re so comfortable and buttery soft, perfect for workouts and everyday wear! #feelyourall #teamnike #nikepartner.”
After backlash to promoting Mulvaney as a voice for women, Nike <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nike-scolds-critics-upset-about-partnership-with-trans-activist-dylan-mulvaney" target="_blank" rel="noopener">scolded</a> critics who voiced their outrage over the partnership. 
“You are an essential component to the success of your community!” Nike said in a pinned comment on its official Instagram page. “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,” the comment added.
Nike’s radical LGBTQ campaign didn’t stop with its promotion of Mulvaney. In June, Nike <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nike-marks-pride-month-with-doc-who-does-kids-gender-surgeries-leaked-email-shows" target="_blank" rel="noopener">celebrated</a> Pride Month by hosting a panel discussion with a surgeon who said he performed “gender affirming mastectomies” on minors, according to a leaked email obtained by The Daily Wire.
Apple
Similar to Hershey’s, Apple had its own <a href="https://thefederalist.com/2023/03/08/here-are-5-brands-celebrating-men-in-costumes-this-womens-history-month/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">celebration</a> of International Women’s Day that featured a biological man. When Apple users visited the app store on International Women’s Day earlier this year, they were met with a banner showing plus-size “fat positivity” activist Naomi Hearts. Users who clicked on the banner were redirected to an article celebrating Heart and encouraging life-altering gender procedures. 
The list of major companies that seek to take advantage of Black Friday shoppers’ open wallets after a year of pushing leftism could go on. While many of the largest companies will likely rake in billions more from American consumers this holiday season even as they continue to push radical theories that the majority of Americans don’t agree with, Black Friday shoppers have another option this year as they search for gifts and holiday treats. 
The Daily Wire is making its presence felt on the market this Black Friday as an alternative to these leftist companies. Shoppers can find a slew of products from The Daily Wire, including deals on Jeremy’s Razors and the Daily Wire Shop to membership deals on The Daily Wire’s new kids entertainment company Bentkey.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/black-friday-gift-guide">CHECK OUT THE DAILY WIRE BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE</a>

Black Friday LGBTQ

How Shoppers’ Favorite Black Friday Brands Are Pushing The Left’s Radical Agenda

Apple

Black Friday

Dylan Mulvaney

LGBTQ

Nike

Target

Nike announced the permanent closure of its factory store in northeast Portland, Oregon, on Friday due to ongoing &#8220;theft and safety issues&#8221; after nearly 40 years of business on the city&#8217;s northeast side, according to a non-profit that supports economic and business development in the neighborhood.
The Soul District Business Association (SBDA) reported the footwear and apparel store&#8217;s decision during a phone call with <a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2023/09/nike-to-permanently-close-ne-portland-factory-store-business-district-says.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">local media</a>, calling the decision a &#8220;major economic blow.&#8221;
&#8220;This news has landed like a lead balloon in our district,&#8221; John Washington, the SDBA&#8217;s executive director, said in a news release. &#8220;We had all been holding our breath since last November when the store quietly shuttered its doors due to internal and external theft and safety issues.&#8221;
&#8220;But, like so many of us riding out the fallout of the pandemic and protests, we held out hope that Nike, city officials and community leaders would recalibrate and realign order. But it looks like it&#8217;s game over,&#8221; Washington added.
The Nike Community Store reportedly opened in June 1984 after Portland civil rights activists worked to bring the shoe brand&#8217;s first-ever factory store on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, formerly Union Avenue. <a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2023/09/nike-to-permanently-close-ne-portland-factory-store-business-district-says.html">According</a> to local media, the area was once the center of the city&#8217;s black population.
The economic driver for the section of the Pacific Northwest city became &#8220;one of the first area businesses to stand up and declare Northeast Portland as a viable community to do business in,&#8221; Ron Herndon, who led the Black United Front, <a href="https://www.wweek.com/news/courts/2023/09/08/northeast-portland-business-association-says-nike-factory-store-is-closed-for-good/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> said in a 2004 Nike press release.
But after Portland defunded its police department in 2020, local business owners affected by the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/portland-businessman-targets-elected-officials-with-national-legal-initiative-over-covid-lawlessness" target="_blank" rel="noopener">crime and property destruction</a> struggled to maintain safety and security. Nike officials reportedly closed the store down more than six months ago before finalizing plans to close and vacate permanently.
Earlier this year, Nike requested that city officials provide off-duty police officers for security purposes at the company&#8217;s store in northeast Portland, but Mayor Ted Wheeler reportedly declined, citing a staffing shortage from the Portland Police Bureau.
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Wheeler told local media he was &#8220;very disappointed&#8221; in a statement on Friday about the closure, saying his office and city officials &#8220;worked tirelessly and in good faith with Nike for almost a year to offer creative solutions to their safety challenges.&#8221;
Nike officials <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/nike-abandons-portland-store-re-opening-amid-theft-safety-issues" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> Fox News Digital it cares &#8220;deeply about Portland&#8217;s North and Northeast community,&#8221; adding it has provided brand &#8220;access and connection&#8221; to the district for roughly four decades &#8220;while serving as a catalyst for change through volunteerism, investments and partnerships with non-profit organizations that benefit the community.&#8221;
&#8220;Nike&#8217;s commitment to supporting and uplifting Portland&#8217;s North and Northeast community is unwavering. We are reimagining Nike&#8217;s retail space, permanently closing our current location at 2650 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and considering future locations as part of this community&#8217;s long term revitalization plan,&#8221; the company said.
&#8220;True to our roots, we will seek the input of local community organizations and leaders to determine the best new location. As we plan ahead, we are keeping the best interest of our employees at heart, providing them options to continue to be part of the Nike family,&#8221; it added.

Tiger Woods Announces Indefinite Break From Golf

Nike Permanently Closes Portland Factory Store Over ‘Theft And Safety Issues,’ Business Group Says

Nike Permanently Closes Portland Factory Store Over 'Theft And Safety Issues,' Business Group Says

Business

Crime

Oregon

Portland

Ted Wheeler

While <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/bud-light-sales-continue-to-plummet-may-soon-lose-status-as-number-one-beer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bud Light</a> and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/multiple-target-stores-across-u-s-hit-with-bomb-threats-for-betraying-the-lgbtq-community-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Target</a> have experienced significant backlash in response to their promotion of transgenderism, sneaker giant Nike, which has its own deal with Dylan Mulvaney, has thrived for years while pushing far-left beliefs on gender and race. 
Bud Light’s sales have plummeted following its partnership with Mulvaney, the transgender-identified social media influencer. The boycott that followed Bud Light’s promotion of transgenderism has cost its parent company, Anheuser Busch, a whopping <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/anheuser-busch-inbev-market-value-plunges-further-staggering-27-billion-drop-since-mulvaney-fiasco-report">$27 billion</a> loss in market value.
“We believe there is a subset of American consumers who will not drink a Bud Light for the foreseeable future,” said Jared Dinges, a beverage analyst at JPMorgan Chase.
Target was similarly punished by consumers after it used the work of an artist who uses Satanic imagery in the company&#8217;s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/target-was-aware-of-satanic-imagery-before-pride-collection-deal-controversial-artist-claims">Pride Month collection</a>. Target’s pride collection also included “tuck-friendly” female swimwear. The retail giant has since <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/targets-stock-market-value-takes-6-billion-hit-since-backlash-over-pride-collection">lost $6 billion</a> in market share, as would-be customers shun the corporation over their commitment to woke causes. 
But Nike&#8217;s stock market fluctuations do not appear to be tied to its years of advancing woke causes. Its embrace of former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick after his controversial 2016 decision to kneel for the national anthem to protest alleged police brutality set off a long run of profitability that culminated in shares hitting a five-year high of $177 per share in 2021. And while the stock price has declined since then, analysts have not blamed it on the Beaverton, Oregon, company&#8217;s progressive stances.
Nike&#8217;s market capitalization has risen from about $30 billion in 2010 to its current $165 billion.
Nike recently struck a deal of its own with Mulvaney to advertise a sports bra and leggings. The Daily Wire recently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nike-marks-pride-month-with-doc-who-does-kids-gender-surgeries-leaked-email-shows">reported on a leaked email</a> from Nike, revealing that the multi-billion-dollar corporation plans to celebrate pride month by hosting a panel discussion with a surgeon who performs sex change operations on adolescents. Nike will also host a “family-friendly” drag story hour event and unveil “gender-inclusive” apparel for children.
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BREAKING: A leaked email from inside of Nike and obtained by <a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDailyWire</a> reveals that the company will host a talk with a child sex change surgeon to celebrate pride month. 
Nike will also host a &quot;drag story time,&quot; along with several other pride events.
THREAD 🧵: <a href="https://t.co/AlxAbqhbI3">pic.twitter.com/AlxAbqhbI3</a>
&mdash; Spencer Lindquist 🇺🇸 (@SpencerLndqst) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpencerLndqst/status/1666110139688951812?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Nike also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nike-sponsors-queer-youth-field-day-following-transgender-sponsorship-controversy">sponsored</a> a “queer youth field day” for children as young as 13 in Memphis and even <a href="https://thefederalist.com/2022/03/22/nike-and-ymca-team-up-with-onlyfans-prostitute-to-teach-kids-explicit-dancing/">teamed up</a> with the Burbank YMCA and an OnlyFans creator to teach children about voguing, a style of dance popular among those who identify as LGBT. The “Intro to Vogue” class was held by a performer who goes by “Honey Balenciaga.” It was open to children in middle school. 
Nike not only provided attendees with transportation to the event, but even incentivized attendance by giving away free pairs of shoes.
A site called “<a href="https://marketingtherainbow.info/case%20studies/fashion/nike">Marketing the Rainbow</a>,” which tracks corporations’ support for the LGBT movement, documented Nike’s promotion of transgenderism dating back to at least 2016.
It&#8217;s not that Nike has been immune from criticism for its stances. It was roundly ripped for <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/retail/colin-kaepernick-nike-timeline">renewing</a> Kaepernick’s endorsement deal in 2018 and making him the face of the “Just Do It” ad campaign two years after he knelt for the anthem. A year later, the company <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/02/business/betsy-ross-shoe-kaepernick-nike.html">dropped its Betsy Ross</a> American flag sneakers after Kaepernick criticized the design, sparking backlash from prominent conservatives, including Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and former Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Ducey.
 “Nike&#8217;s sales have only grown since it seized attention with its ad campaign featuring former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick,&#8221; The Chicago Tribune <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-nike-kaepernick-betsy-ross-flag-20190703-53bqcmqhkzh7dad5dgvpcopkqi-53bqcmqhkzh7dad5dgvpcopkqi-story.html">wrote at the time</a>.
Matt Powell, a sports industry analyst for the NPD Group, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/02/business/betsy-ross-shoe-kaepernick-nike.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told The New York Times</a> that Nike’s partnership with Kaepernick was a winner with customers even if it was a dud with conservatives.
 “Pretty much every metric you can look at was positive for Nike — their social media mentions went up, their sales rose the week after, and they won a bunch of awards for the ad campaign,&#8221; he said. &#8220;They are clearly aligned with their core customer base.”

Nike Swoosh

Nike Immune From Conservative Backlash Despite Long History Of Woke Advocacy

Bud Light

LGBT

Pride Month

Social Issues

Transgender

U.S.

Nike will celebrate Pride Month by hosting a panel discussion with a surgeon who said he performed &#8220;gender affirming mastectomies&#8221; on minors, a leaked email obtained by The Daily Wire reveals. 
The email begins by stating, “This year’s theme is Together We Are Undeniable. The LGBTQIA+ community continues to fight for equality &#8211; their fight to be themselves.”
It goes on to explain that the theme “centers around determination; celebrating icons of the community and the progress we have and will continue to make in light of recent attacks and restrictions on the community and their allies.&#8221;
<div id="attachment_564375" style="width: 470px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-564375" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-564375" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/06/Nike-Leak-1-258x300.jpeg" alt="" width="460" height="535" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/06/Nike-Leak-1-258x300.jpeg 258w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/06/Nike-Leak-1-495x576.jpeg 495w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/06/Nike-Leak-1-768x894.jpeg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/06/Nike-Leak-1-1319x1536.jpeg 1319w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/06/Nike-Leak-1.jpeg 1750w" sizes="(max-width: 460px) 100vw, 460px" />Obtained by The Daily Wire</div>
The Portland-based corporation will host a panel discussion with <a href="https://www.ohsu.edu/providers/blair-peters-md#" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dr. Blair Peters</a>, a surgeon at the Oregon Health and Science University, who has admitted to performing &#8220;gender affirming mastectomies&#8221; on minors.
<div id="attachment_564365" style="width: 463px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-564365" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-564365" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/06/Nike-Leak-4-287x300.jpeg" alt="" width="453" height="474" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/06/Nike-Leak-4-287x300.jpeg 287w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/06/Nike-Leak-4-551x576.jpeg 551w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/06/Nike-Leak-4-768x803.jpeg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/06/Nike-Leak-4-1469x1536.jpeg 1469w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/06/Nike-Leak-4.jpeg 1846w" sizes="(max-width: 453px) 100vw, 453px" />Obtained by The Daily Wire</div>
“Join the Human Rights Campaign, Portland Community Football Club’s Kaig Lightner, and OHSU Trans Health Program’s Dr. Blair Peters for a panel and Q&amp;A to discuss policies impacting the transgender community,” the leaked email says, advertising the July 11 event.
In a now-deleted tweet from last year, Peters said he had &#8220;performed gender affirming mastectomies (top surgeries) for 3 young adults and adolescents&#8221; in one day. 
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Here he is bragging about it again. <a href="https://t.co/4IhAAHOjPo">pic.twitter.com/4IhAAHOjPo</a>
&mdash; Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) <a href="https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1524964560356007936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Peters makes another reference to performing sex change operations on minors in a video <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvsNNAfctjI&amp;t=31s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">titled</a> “Meet OHSU’s Dr. Blair Peters,” where he discusses the experiences that motivate him as a surgeon. 
Peters, who self-identifies as “queer,” cites an example scenario, saying, “I have an adolescent patient who hasn’t been going to school … and they come back to clinic two months after top surgery … thriving all of the sudden.”
The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/oregon-child-transgender-clinic-director-took-thousands-of-dollars-from-puberty-blocker-developer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">previously revealed</a> that the director of the <a href="https://www.ohsu.edu/doernbecher/doernbecher-gender-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gender clinic</a> at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, which is affiliated with OHSU, received $3,114 from Endo Pharmaceuticals, the producer of a drug commonly used off-label as a puberty blocker.
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But Nike’s panel discussion is just one of several events the company is hosting to commemorate Pride Month. The corporation is also hosting a “family friendly” drag story time on July 13. The event description reads, “Join us at our inaugural Pride Community Fair, spotlighting local queer, women, and minority-owned businesses.” It goes on to read, “You will have an opportunity to cultivate an undeniable sense of community and belonging with your Nike teammates through activations like … a family friendly Drag Story Time.”
<div id="attachment_564361" style="width: 669px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-564361" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-564361" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/06/Nike-Leak-5-300x120.jpeg" alt="" width="659" height="264" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/06/Nike-Leak-5-300x120.jpeg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/06/Nike-Leak-5-1024x411.jpeg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/06/Nike-Leak-5-768x308.jpeg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/06/Nike-Leak-5-1536x616.jpeg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/06/Nike-Leak-5-2048x822.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 659px) 100vw, 659px" />Obtained by The Daily Wire</div>
Nike also encourages employees to “join the Pride Network as we spotlight the pioneering gender-inclusive ‘Kids One Fit’ apparel.” Attendees to this event will also “unpack the conversation of trans inclusion in sport with a special screening of ‘Changing the Game,&#8217;” a <a style="font-size: 16px;" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SogJSMhPqI0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">film</a> promoting the presence of male athletes in women’s sports.
Meanwhile, the description of another event reads, “Join the PRIDE Network in a conversation … as we welcome environmental educator Isaias Hernandez … to explore queer ecology.&#8221; The email defines &#8220;queer ecology&#8221; as “a field of scientific study that disrupts conventional binaries to create solutions for the climate action and future of sport.” 
<div id="attachment_564385" style="width: 417px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-564385" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-564385" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/06/Nike-Leak-3-245x300.jpeg" alt="" width="407" height="498" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/06/Nike-Leak-3-245x300.jpeg 245w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/06/Nike-Leak-3-470x576.jpeg 470w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/06/Nike-Leak-3-768x942.jpeg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/06/Nike-Leak-3-1252x1536.jpeg 1252w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/06/Nike-Leak-3-1670x2048.jpeg 1670w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/06/Nike-Leak-3.jpeg 1705w" sizes="(max-width: 407px) 100vw, 407px" />Obtained by The Daily Wire</div>
Hernandez <a href="https://queerbrownvegan.com/story/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">explains</a> that he seeks to “help everyone educate themselves on the intersectional nature of the climate crisis” before adding, “As a queer and brown environmentalist, I believe a diversity of worldviews, backgrounds, and experiences are essential to achieve success in the environmental movement.”
In addition to hosting the event series, Nike has also pledged financial support to a number of &#8220;LGBTQIA+&#8221; organizations. “This year, through our Inclusive Community portfolio investment, Nike is supporting six organizations advancing the LGBTQIA+ community with a total of $600,000 in funding,&#8221; the email reads.
The Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN) is one of the six organizations listed. GLSEN says the group works “to prompt LGBT cultural inclusion” in schools. GLSEN has produced an “<a href="https://www.glsen.org/sites/default/files/2020-06/LGBTQ-History-Coloring-Book-Color.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LGBTQ History Coloring Book</a>” for kids, as well as “<a href="https://www.glsen.org/inclusive-curriculum" target="_blank" rel="noopener">inclusive curriculum</a>” guides for elementary school teachers. 
Nike also pledged financial support to <a href="https://www.camplightbulb.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Camp Lightbulb</a>, an organization that hosts overnight camps for &#8220;LGBTQ+ youth&#8221; as young as 14.
The email is signed by Heidi O’Neill, the president of consumer and marketplace and the executive sponsor of the “<a href="https://jobs.nike.com/blog/pride-network-friends" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PRIDE Network</a>,” an affinity group for employees who identify as LGBT. 
Nike did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Nike Company

Nike Marks Pride Month With Doc Who Does Kids’ Gender Surgeries, Leaked Email Shows

Nike To Celebrate Pride Month By Hosting Talk With Doctor Who Performed 'Gender Affirming' Surgeries On Minors, Leaked Email Reveals

Pride

Transgender Athletes

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/megyn-kelly" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Megyn Kelly</a> slammed the new partnership of Nike with who she called the &#8220;non-breasted&#8221; biological male trans activist Dylan Mulvaney to sell the brand&#8217;s sport bras.
During Sirius XM’s ”<a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/0NHH6AI15BRsWZuiJ7NPjk?si=QlTOET--QzOmi30_KpD1zw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Megyn Kelly Show</a>&#8221; podcast, the host was speaking with political commentators Emily Jashinsky and Eliana Johnson about Nike making Mulvaney the face of the brand&#8217;s sports bras, despite the fact that the activist doesn&#8217;t have breasts.
&#8220;Nike sponsoring Dylan Mulvaney now for f****ing sports bra,&#8221; Kelly said. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Dylan doesn&#8217;t have breasts. Dylan&#8217;s been taking some sort of a hormone that has turned Dylan into some — I don&#8217;t know what&#8217;s happening there. But those are not breasts.&#8221;
&#8220;And Dylan doesn&#8217;t need any sort of a bra — never mind a sports bra,&#8221; she added. &#8220;The three ladies on this program right now have six boobs between us, and we actually know what it&#8217;s like to wear a bra, and no one would be inspired to buy one based on non-breasted Dylan Mulvaney prancing around in a Nike sports bra.&#8221;
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Bud Light Executive Reveals Truth as Top Companies Go Woke, with Emily Jashinsky and Eliana Johnson" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PDOHf7ReRG4?start=514&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The former Fox News host said it appears Mulvaney has &#8220;an eating disorder&#8221; and shouldn&#8217;t be &#8220;anybody&#8217;s spokesperson for anything. If there were a woman who looked like that, she couldn&#8217;t get an endorsement because they say she clearly is unwell.&#8221;
Jashinsky said the move by Nike was a &#8220;great glimpse into how divorced a lot of the decisions these big companies make — especially investment firms make. &#8230; They&#8217;re not in touch with the market. They&#8217;re completely divorced from market forces.&#8221;
Later in the <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/0NHH6AI15BRsWZuiJ7NPjk?si=QlTOET--QzOmi30_KpD1zw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">segment</a>, the host brought up the trans activist chant heard during many different recent events and said she&#8217;s done hearing the lie that &#8220;trans women are women.&#8221;
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&#8220;No &#8230; they&#8217;re not,&#8221; Kelly said. &#8220;Sorry. I mean, I know I&#8217;m being vulgar today, but this whole topic is bringing it up. Like, Trans women really are &#8216;chicks with d****.&#8217; It&#8217;s true. It&#8217;s a short, catchy, catchphrase, but it&#8217;s really what&#8217;s happening.&#8221;
&#8220;They&#8217;re not women,&#8221; she added. &#8220;They&#8217;re fake women. Biological men masquerading as women.&#8221; She said most of them we could get along with, but that this &#8220;activist class must be defeated and shamed. Those I will fight all day long.&#8221;
Kelly has been very outspoken about transgender issues, specifically biological men competing in women&#8217;s sports. Recently, she sat down with Daily Wire Editor Emeritus <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/author/ben-shapiro" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ben Shapiro</a> on &#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-have-to-fight-megyn-kelly-ben-shapiro-talk-wokeism-transgenderism-and-more-on-new-episode-of-the-search" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Search</a>&#8221; and admitted that when it comes to the transgender debate, her opinions have changed.
Kelly told Shapiro she&#8217;s now crossed the &#8220;Rubicon&#8221; and gone from telling others to be tolerant to being an &#8220;activist&#8221; against men being in girls&#8217; spaces.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/woke-weak-white-woman-megyn-kelly-slams-drew-barrymore-for-praying-at-the-transgender-altar-after-kneeling-to-dylan-mulvaney" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8216;Woke, Weak, White Woman&#8217;: Megyn Kelly Slams Drew Barrymore For &#8216;Praying At The Transgender Altar&#8217; After Kneeling To Dylan Mulvaney</a>

Megyn Kelly

‘F***ing Sports Bras’: Megyn Kelly Slams Nike’s Partnership With ‘Non-Breasted’ Dylan Mulvaney

Celebrities

Entertainment

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/nike" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nike</a> scolded critics to be more &#8220;inclusive&#8221; in response to backlash over the brand teaming up with <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/lgbtq" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LGBT activist</a> and influencer <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/stop-giving-them-your-money-nike-partners-with-dylan-mulvaney-ignites-fury-online" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dylan Mulvaney</a>, a biological male who claims to be a &#8220;girl.&#8221;
Notably, Mulvaney showed off women&#8217;s leggings and a sports bra in the sponsored Nike ad, sparking scores of comments about the erasure of women.
&#8220;You are an essential component to the success of your community!&#8221; Nike said in a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CqtFNrEOEQv/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pinned comment</a> on its official Instagram page. &#8220;We welcome comments that contribute to a positive and constructive discussion: Be kind ❤️ Be inclusive ❤️Encourage each other ❤️.&#8221;
&#8220;Hate speech, bullying, or other behaviors that are not in the spirit of a diverse and inclusive community will be deleted,&#8221; the comment added.
Nike&#8217;s official Instagram account includes the two hashtags &#8220;#BlackLivesMatter and #StopAsianHate&#8221; and boasts more than 285 million followers.
Mulvaney on Wednesday posted photos and video wearing Zenvy leggings and an Alate bra, captioning the post, &#8220;Home for a moment and leaning into cozy workout wear life with [Nike Women]&#8217;s newest Zenvy leggings and Alate bra! They’re so comfortable and buttery soft, perfect for workouts and everyday wear! #feelyourall #teamnike #nikepartner.&#8221;
In a video promoting the women&#8217;s apparel, Mulvaney does high kicks in bare feet to music, outside.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
What woman acts like this? <a href="https://t.co/z0TjujHGyM">pic.twitter.com/z0TjujHGyM</a>
&mdash; Julia Song (@realjuliasong) <a href="https://twitter.com/realjuliasong/status/1643764760461058048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“Nike legit paid a dude — with no boobs and a c*** and balls — to put on women’s athletic gear and advertise it to women. You can’t even make this s*** up,” OutKick founder Clay Travis <a href="https://twitter.com/ClayTravis/status/1643803196144361472" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reacted</a> to the partnership, The Daily Wire reported.
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One woman <a href="https://twitter.com/Keggs719/status/1643746790305583106" target="_blank" rel="noopener">quipped</a>, “Omg thank you Nike for finally making women’s leggings that hold your balls in tight while you twirl around in the yard like a little girl! I’ve been looking everywhere!”
&#8220;You say be inclusive yet you exclude women,&#8221; a comment <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CqtFNrEOEQv/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;Joke of a company, you should be ashamed!&#8221;
&#8220;Sad that you believe the most demeaning stereotypes of women will be what sell products for you,&#8221; another comment <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CqtFNrEOEQv/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">read</a>. &#8220;There are so many strong athletic women to choose from, and somehow, you chose a man.&#8221;
Mulvaney has scored numerous endorsement deals outside of Nike, including with brands like Bud Light, Native, Crest, Ulta Beauty, Instacart, EOS, CeraVe, and possibly tampon brand <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@dylanmulvaney/video/7079071285610827050">Tampax</a>. According to a report <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11377547/TikToker-Dylan-Mulvaney-set-make-1M-endorsements-odd-man-girl-transition-show.html">published</a> in November, it was speculated that Mulvaney last year brought in a cool million dollars from the endorsement deals.
He&#8217;s also become a Hollywood favorite, showing off photos with reality star <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CpD6w16vn8j/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paris Hilton</a> and actresses <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cjrm1uzOfrR/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kerry Washington</a> and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pure-cringe-drew-barrymore-kneels-before-trans-activist-dylan-mulvaney-during-talk-show-appearance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Drew Barrymore</a>. Mulvaney has been on talk shows, walked the runway at New York Fashion Week, spoken at the 2022 Forbes Power Women&#8217;s Summit, and even received a letter from Vice President Kamala Harris <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11886801/Keeping-busy-Kamala-VP-sends-trans-activist-Dylan-Mulvaney-one-year-birthday-note.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gushing</a> over Mulvaney’s one-year marker of “girlhood.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/stop-giving-them-your-money-nike-partners-with-dylan-mulvaney-ignites-fury-online" target="_blank" rel="noopener">‘Stop Giving Them Your Money’: Nike Partners With Dylan Mulvaney, Ignites Fury Online</a>

Prime Video Celebrates “Catherine Called Birdy” – Inside

Nike Scolds Critics Upset About Partnership With Trans Activist Dylan Mulvaney

Nike Scolds Critics Upset About Partnership With Trans Activist Dylan Mulvaney For Women’s Apparel

Social media was in an uproar this week after <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/transgender">transgender activist</a> Dylan Mulvaney announced a partnership with athletic apparel brand <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/nike">Nike</a> following a controversial deal with Bud Light.
Less than a week after the influencer sparked outage over partnering with the beer brand, Mulvaney posted another video that got everyone talking. The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/social-media">TikTok user</a> shared several Instagram post ads for Nike’s latest female sportswear on Wednesday. 
&#8220;Home for a moment and leaning into cozy workout wear like with @nikewomen’s newest Zenvy leggings and Alate bra! They’re so comfortable and buttery soft, perfect for workouts and everyday wear! #feelyourall #teamnike #nikepartner,” Mulvaney <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CqqO3Dnu4TQ/">shared</a> in the caption.
In the first ad, Mulvaney poses in the leggings and bra. The second video featured the activist stretching and dancing around wearing Nike apparel. Both were clearly marked as paid partnership posts.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
What woman acts like this? <a href="https://t.co/z0TjujHGyM">pic.twitter.com/z0TjujHGyM</a>
&mdash; Julia Song (@realjuliasong) <a href="https://twitter.com/realjuliasong/status/1643764760461058048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“Alert the media – I’m entering my workout era,” Mulvaney shared in Instagram stories.
Many Twitter users were furious that the brand would select a biological male to advertise women’s clothing. 
“Nike legit paid a dude — with no boobs and a c*** and balls — to put on women’s athletic gear and advertise it to women. You can’t even make this s*** up,” OutKick founder Clay Travis <a href="https://twitter.com/ClayTravis/status/1643803196144361472">wrote</a>. 
“Omg thank you Nike for finally making women&#8217;s leggings that hold your balls in tight while you twirl around in the yard like a little girl! I&#8217;ve been looking everywhere!” one woman <a href="https://twitter.com/Keggs719/status/1643746790305583106">joked</a>. 
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“Hey, [Nike]! My wife is a physician and dietitian, has four kids, is a track coach, and runs a busy household while maintaining great exercise and eating habits,” another account <a href="https://twitter.com/Huff4Congress/status/1643706241464639489">posted</a>. “How about giving her an endorsement deal, instead of a skinny dude in lipstick?”
“Nike is the latest mega corporation to make Dylan Mulvaney, a biological man, their female brand ambassador. These companies are spitting in the faces of women every single day. Stop giving them your money,” a third Twitter user <a href="https://twitter.com/realmichaelseif/status/1643701230714093569">urged</a>. 
Mulvaney has worked with many national brands in addition to Nike and Bud Light. The influencer has also posted paid promotions for KitchenAid, Kind Snacks, wedding dress brand ASOS, Native, MAC Cosmetics, and many more.

‘Stop Giving Them Your Money’: Nike Partners With Dylan Mulvaney, Ignites Fury Online

Nike Partners With Dylan Mulvaney, Ignites Fury Online

boycott

Social Media

Hollywood rarely flexes its soft power muscles these days.
Studios once extolled the glories of the Founding Fathers, rallied the troops during times of war and otherwise exported tales of American exceptionalism.
Now, if a studio has a message to send, it’s often pointing out the country’s flaws, be it slavery’s enduring stain (“Till”), gender discrimination (“She Said”) or corporate greed (“The Wolf of Wall Street&#8221;).
And that product gets shipped around the globe.
It’s why “Air” feels like a movie made during a different era.
The true story behind the Air Jordan sneaker that revolutionized sports marketing comes from a curious source – progressive superstars Ben Affleck and Matt Damon.
The Boston buddies crashed Hollywood with 1997’s “Good Will Hunting,” and their friendship remains intact. Their latest collaboration, following the 2021 box office dud “The Last Duel,” recalls Nike attempt to lure rookie Michael Jordan into its endorsement arms, and the precarious negotiations that sealed the deal.
“Air” tracks how a Nike executive named Sonny Vaccaro (Damon) convinced Jordan’s mother (Viola Davis) to weigh the company’s pitch over similar pleas from Converse and Adidas. The latter were the go-to sneakers for ‘80s era basketball giants, and Damon’s character needed to change that thinking or suffer the consequences.
He could lose both his job and professional clout if his sales pitch falls flat. His hunch tells him it’s the right move, though, and he can’t ignore his gut. What’s comical is how Damon gained weight for the role, inflating said gut to make him far less athletic than the stars he pursues.
Sonny turns to Nike CEO Phil Knight (Affleck) for help. He needs cash to dangle in front of Team Jordan, but the guru-like Knight isn’t initially sold on the pitch.
We all know what happened next. The Air Jordan sneaker became a sensation that endures even today, and Jordan became the greatest basketball player of his generation — if not of all time.
“Air” delivers nostalgia, colorful characters, and a can’t-miss narrative based on actual events. That’s not the only story in play.
The drama is a love letter to American capitalism, acknowledging the risks many face when they dream big. Courage, faith, and grit can yield substantial results, and you don’t need a killer jump shot to make it happen.
Sonny is the story’s hero, alongside co-conspirators played by Chris Tucker and Jason Bateman. They know Sonny is attempting a Hail Mary pass, to mix sports metaphors, but they’re betting everything they have that he just might score a touchdown.
There’s a moment late in the film where most moviegoers will expect a woke detour. Mrs. Jordan is mulling the Nike offer, and she knows her son’s value off and on the court.
Here comes &#8216;The Lecture™&#8217;, the moment when a Hollywood film uncorks a monologue about the racial inequities in play, the country’s tragic past, and the imbalances within the western financial scene.
Instead, Davis’ character reminds Sonny of her son’s worth, and skill, and why signing him will be a win-win scenario.
No lecture. No attempt to guilt Sonny into a deal via racial discrimination. It’s all about merit and getting paid what you’re due.
Alex Convery’s screenplay never wags its finger at Nike, corporate greed, or capitalism’s inevitable inequities. Instead, it praises ingenuity, guile, and perseverance. Sonny works ‘round the clock to seal the deal, as do several colleagues.
And, when the chips are down, they turn to Nike’s sneaker guru (Matt Maher) to turn their vision into reality.
Not every capitalist sinks the winning shot, of course. Many dreamers watch their hopes dashed by reality. Others fail and fail again before crafting their success story.
One wrong word from Mama Jordan, and we’d be wearing Michael Jordan kicks from Adidas today.
The system rewards bold and courageous souls who believe in their ability to defy the odds. The latter is personified on-screen by Chris Messina, stealing the film as Jordan’s cranky agent.
“Air” doesn’t diminish the free market. It celebrates it without question or hand wringing. The film is generating mostly raves from professional critics, too, save a nasty swipe from <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/04/17/air-movie-review-paint" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The New Yorker</a> due to its fiscal framing.
<blockquote>This movie, in short, kneels at the altar of high capitalism.</blockquote>
It’s important to remember how left of center the film’s stars remain. Damon famously played, and mercilessly mocked, future Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during the height of the 2018 confirmation hearings.
Affleck once told Playboy Magazine he’s <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/ben-affleck-has-a-hard-time-watching-republican-actors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">uncomfortable watching Republican actors</a>.
<blockquote>When I watch a guy I know is a big Republican, part of me thinks, I probably wouldn’t like this person if I met him, or we would have different opinions. That s*** fogs the mind when you should be paying attention and be swept into the illusion.</blockquote>
It’s not the first time the Affleck-Damon pairing took a pragmatic approach to their art. The duo collaborated on Project Greenlight, a docuseries meant to foster young filmmakers. 
The show, which ran for four seasons and is being rebooted by actress/producer Issa Rae, followed indie filmmakers attempting to make a movie. Affleck and Damon co-produced the show, and their collective star wattage powered it above and beyond your average docuseries.
They knew better than anyone what it takes to beat the Hollywood odds, and they wanted to share those lessons with others.
The series didn’t launch any new superstars, but several of the directors in question enjoyed modest careers following their show appearance. It likely inspired more than a few wannabe directors watching at home to give filmmaking a try.
Chances are someone will see “Air,” note how the main characters gambled on their guts … and won. That’s soft power in real time, an American sentiment worth sharing both here and across the globe.
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of <a href="http://www.hollywoodintoto.com/">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News&#8217; Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://twitter.com/HollywoodInToto?lang=en">@HollywoodInToto</a>. 
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

2023 SXSW Conference And Festival – Day 9

Affleck, Damon Deliver With ‘Air,’ A Pro-Capitalism Three-Pointer

Affleck, Damon Deliver ‘With Air,’ A Pro-Capitalism Three-Pointer

Ben Affleck

Hollywood

Matt Damon

Michael Jordan

Movies

Readers Pass

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/reality-tv">Reality star</a> and personal trainer Daniel Holmes faced backlash over his comments claiming <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/nike">Nike</a> glorifies obesity with <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/fat-acceptance">plus-sized mannequins</a>, but so far, he hasn’t backed down or apologized.
The “Married at First Sight” star sparked controversy by posting an image of a larger-than-average mannequin outfitted in workout gear to his Instagram Stories page. “Those that say this is empowering are completely delusional,” he wrote in the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-11505187/MAFS-Daniel-Holmes-sparks-outrage-criticising-activewear-brands-using-plus-size-mannequins.html">caption</a>. “It’s promoting early death. There is no power in that.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
MAFS&#39; Daniel Holmes sparks outrage over body shaming comments <a href="https://t.co/izUqe4R1vh">https://t.co/izUqe4R1vh</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/DailyMailCeleb?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DailyMailCeleb</a>
&mdash; jasonsxt (@jasonsxt) <a href="https://twitter.com/jasonsxt/status/1600455062198792192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2022</a></blockquote>
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After getting several messages calling him out, Holmes <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl0hLYZgUHR/">clarified</a> his statements and said they were taken out of context. But he didn’t apologize, backtrack, or say bodies can be healthy at every size, which is a common talking point from the fat acceptance movement.
He acknowledged that many believe overweight people should be working out and shouldn’t be dissuaded from wearing workout clothes. But Holmes insisted that Nike was promoting that body type, not trying to encourage overweight people to exercise.
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The trainer said he wasn’t “body shaming” women with his post, saying instead that activewear companies that “promote obesity” should be the focus of everyone’s anger.
“I’ve done a bit of a scan of all the crazy DMs and got a bit of an overview of what people were saying,” the reality show star said in a follow-up post. “And what people were saying was ‘what are people supposed to wear in the gym if they can’t promote overweight activewear.’”
“Hey – clothes? It’s just the gym. It’s just a bunch of metal objects that you pick up. You don’t necessarily need to wear a particular brand of clothing to do that,” he continued. “That’s not the issue, it’s when brands start to cater to unhealthy body types — my concern is where does that lead?”
Holmes also said his comments should be received “with compassion” because he knows losing weight can be challenging.  
“I understand it is quite difficult to lose weight. The steps in order to do it are relatively simple but to execute it is pretty difficult&#8230; I worked in the fitness industry for close to 10 years and it isn&#8217;t a new subject to me,” he said.
The “MAFS” star concluded by slamming brands that promote “unhealthy” body types to make money, which is what he believes Nike is doing with the mannequins. 
“When we have brands that essentially promote this idea to make money, yes, I have an issue with that,” Holmes said.
The comments were flooded with criticism from followers who thought people of all sizes should exercise in Nike activewear. They also called out the reality star for his past steroid use. 
“It&#8217;s a bit rich preaching about healthy lifestyles etc when you have abused steroids don&#8217;t you think?” one person replied.

In Fashion Capital, Mannequins Are In High Demand

Reality Star Doubles Down, Won’t Apologize For Saying Fat Nike Mannequins Are ‘Promoting Early Death’

Reality Star Doubles Down, Won't Apologize For Saying Fat Nike Mannequins Are 'Promoting Early Death'

Fat Acceptance

Reality TV

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/nike" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nike</a> halted its relationship with the Brooklyn Nets&#8217; <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/kyrie-irving" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kyrie Irving</a> on Friday ahead of a new product that the company was set to launch with Irving that is part of an endorsement deal that the company has with him.
“At Nike, we believe there is no place for hate speech and we condemn any form of antisemitism,” the company said. “We are deeply saddened and disappointed by the situation and its impact on everyone.”
The team issued a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/brooklyn-nets-suspend-kyrie-irving-after-he-refuses-to-apologize-for-tweeting-anti-semitic-movie" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> this week saying that they have suspended Irving for at least five games without pay for failure to “unequivocally say he has no antisemitic beliefs,” adding that he was “currently unfit to be associated with the Brooklyn Nets.”
“Over the last several days, we have made repeated attempts to work with Kyrie Irving to help him understand the harm and danger of his actions, which began with him publicizing a film containing deeply disturbing anti-Semitic hate,” the team’s statement reads. “We believed that taking the path of education in this challenging situation would be the right one and thought that we had made progress with our joint commitment to eradicating hate and intolerance.”
The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kyrie-irving-apologizes-for-posting-link-to-anti-semitic-film" target="_blank" rel="noopener">problems</a> for Irving started when he shared a link to his millions of followers of a film called “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America” on October 27. After backlash ensued, Irving tweeted<a href="https://twitter.com/KyrieIrving/status/1586419512538451968?s=20&amp;t=-Nt-1Ybv3Hc97smmLHDUOQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">,</a> “The ‘Anti-Semitic’ label that is being pushed on me is not justified and does not reflect the reality or truth I live in everyday,” and deleted the original tweet, but didn’t apologize.
On October 28, Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai posted a statement in which he said, “I’m disappointed that Kyrie appears to support a film based on a book full of anti-semitic disinformation. I want to sit down and make sure he understands this is hurtful to all of us, and as a man of faith, it is wrong to promote hate based on race, ethnicity or religion.”
After the Nets’ game on October 29, Irving was asked at a press conference about his “promotion” of the movie through his tweet. He responded, “Will you please stop calling it a promotion? What am I promoting?”
“You put it out on your platform,” the reporter suggested.
“I put it out there just like you put things out there, right?’ Irving declared. “Let’s move on. Don’t dehumanize me up here. … I don’t have to understand anything from you.”
The NBA later responded to Irving&#8217;s remarks in a statement saying that anti-Semitism is unacceptable in the league.
&#8220;Hate speech of any kind is unacceptable and runs counter to the NBA’s values of equality, inclusion and respect,&#8221; the statement said. &#8220;We believe we all have a role to play in ensuring such words or ideas, including antisemitic ones, are challenged and refuted and we will continue working with all members of the NBA community to ensure that everyone understands the impact of their words and actions.&#8221;
Hank Berrien and Brandon Drey contributed to this report.

Indiana Pacers v Brooklyn Nets

Nike Halts Relationship With NBA’s Kyrie Irving Over Anti-Semitism Controversy

Nike Halts Relationship With NBA's Kyrie Irving Over Anti-Semitism Controversy

Anti-Semitism

Kyrie Irving

The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/2022-midterms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">race</a> for governor of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/oregon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Oregon</a> is getting ever tighter, as Republican candidate Christine Drazan sees favorability in polling and picks up a donation from the co-founder of Nike.
Phil Knight, co-founder of mega athletic company Nike, has <a href="https://www.klcc.org/klcc-business-and-economy-news/2022-10-08/nike-co-founder-phil-knight-is-now-backing-republican-christine-drazan-in-oregons-tight-governor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">given</a> $1 million to Drazan’s Oregon gubernatorial campaign, KATU <a href="https://katu.com/news/local/nike-co-founder-phil-knight-now-backs-christine-drazan-with-1-million-donation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. The move was <a href="https://www.klcc.org/klcc-business-and-economy-news/2022-10-08/nike-co-founder-phil-knight-is-now-backing-republican-christine-drazan-in-oregons-tight-governor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> first publicized by <a href="https://www.wweek.com/news/2022/10/06/phil-knight-switches-candidates-contributes-1-million-to-republican-christine-drazan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Willamette Week</a> last week.
“Phil Knight is a pioneering and respected leader not just in Oregon, but across the globe. It’s a tremendous honor to have his support as well as the support of so many Oregonians from across our state,” Trey Rosser, Drazan’s Campaign Manager, said in a statement provided to The Daily Wire.
In the past, Knight <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/nike-co-founder-donates-1m-republican-running-governor-oregon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gave</a> $3.75 million to Betsy Johnson’s campaign. Johnson is the unaffiliated candidate running in the race for governor of Oregon, making it a three-way competition between herself, Drazan, and Democratic candidate Tina Kotek, who was formerly the Speaker of the Oregon House. Johnson served in the state legislature as a Democrat.
Knight has donated across the aisle. He also reportedly gave money to Republican Knute Buehler in 2018, according to <a href="https://thatoregonlife.com/2022/10/nike-co-founder-gives-republican-gubernatorial-candidate-a-fighting-chance/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">That Oregon Life </a>. Buehler <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Knute_Buehler" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ran</a> for governor of Oregon in 2018, but was unsuccessful against Kate Brown.
Drazan has taken the lead in several recent polls, with <a href="https://canbyfirst.com/gop-candidate-from-canby-holds-narrow-lead-in-governors-race-non-partisan-poll-finds/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">results</a> from recent Emerson College Polling showing her leading Kotek with 36% of support, while Kotek was at 34% favorability. She was up by two points in DHM Research and Nelson Research numbers; she was ahead by four points in Clout Research, and up one point in Cygnal’s polling, according to FiveThirtyEight&#8217;s <a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2022-election-forecast/governor/oregon/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reporting</a>.
<a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2022-election-forecast/governor/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FiveThirtyEight</a> sees the as race as extremely close — forecasting that both Drazan and Kotek have a 50% chance of success in the state.
The Republican is demonstrating a strong showing amid Oregonians’ concerns over crime, homelessness, and education — three topics for which she has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/qa-with-gop-oregon-gubernatorial-candidate-christine-drazan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">provided</a> solutions. Drazan has also pointed to her opponents’ failings in the legislature, and drawn on the frustration regarding COVID lockdowns.
Dr. Jim Moore, a psephologist at Pacific University Oregon, told The Daily Wire that Knight’s contribution is “definitely a move of support towards Drazan. …it looks like it&#8217;s becoming more of a two-person race between Drazan and Democrat Tina Kotek.”
“It&#8217;s still not clear if he supports Drazan, but he definitely doesn&#8217;t want Tina Kotek to be governor,” he added.
Moore pointed out that when he has previously given funds, Knight hasn’t had much influence among voters or donations.
“This might be different simply because he&#8217;s switching candidates. It might open the door to other people saying, ‘well, our real future is with Christine Drazan. So even though we&#8217;ve also given a lot of money to Betsy Johnson, we need to focus on helping Christine Drazan however we can,’” he added.
John Charles, president and CEO of Cascade Policy Institute had a different view, pointing to the unpopularity of the current governor — Democrat Kate Brown.
“Some observers have commented that Mr. Knight&#8217;s donation means he is ‘jumping ship’, but I have a more nuanced view,” he told The Daily Wire over email. “I think he remains a Betsy Johnson supporter, but he also supports Christine Drazan, because both represent a clean break from the Kate Brown era.”

906EBB48-049F-4A2A-940E-9BDEC31C5B71_1_201_a

Nike Co-Founder Moves Support To GOP Oregon Gubernatorial Candidate With $1M Donation

Nike Co-Founder Phil Knight Backs GOP Oregon Gubernatorial Candidate Christine Drazan With $1M Donation

2022 Election

2022 Midterms

Peloton Interactive is falling to pieces, replacing its CEO as speculation about a merger continues to grow.
The company — which manufactures stationary exercise bikes through which users can complete virtual fitness classes — has witnessed a remarkable slowdown in demand since the COVID-19 lockdowns that originally presented new growth opportunities. Peloton will slash 2,800 jobs, representing 20% of its corporate workforce. Instructors will not be affected by the move.
Meanwhile, Peloton co-founder John Foley will end his decade-long tenure as CEO, instead assuming the role of executive chairman. He will be replaced by former Spotify CFO Barry McCarthy.
Peloton’s stock began the year at roughly $35; by the end of January, the price declined to $24. In recent days, however, the price has surged above $37 amid speculation over a buyout.
The change in leadership follows recent pressure from investors hoping for a merger, according to <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/peloton-ceo-john-foley-to-step-down-become-executive-chair-11644314403?mod=hp_lead_pos2">The Wall Street Journal</a>:
<blockquote>A little over two weeks ago, activist investor Blackwells Capital LLC called for Peloton to fire Mr. Foley and explore a sale of the company, which the Journal has reported is attracting potential suitors including Amazon.com Inc.
Blackwells reiterated its call Tuesday, saying Mr. Foley should leave the company entirely rather than become executive chairman. Blackwells also released a 65-page presentation in which it estimated a sale could value Peloton above $65 a share. Peloton shares closed Monday at $29.75.</blockquote>
Many have pointed to Apple, Nike, and Amazon as potential suitors for Peloton.
“With media reports swirling that Peloton could be up for sale with Amazon and Nike potential suitors, we would be shocked if Apple is not aggressively involved in this potential deal process,” Wedbush Securities managing director Dan Ives wrote in an investor note shared with the <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/02/07/peloton-stock-up-on-amazon-nike-or-apple-takeover-speculation/">New York Post</a>. “Acquiring Peloton would be a major strategic coup and catalyze the company’s aggressive health and fitness initiatives.” 
<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/08/why-apple-wont-buy-peloton.html">CNBC</a> technology editor Steve Kovach, however, does not see an Apple buyout in the cards.
“Apple rarely makes large acquisitions. Peloton’s market cap was a bit more than $12 billion by Tuesday afternoon. Apple has never even come close to buying a company that large. Its largest acquisition to date was Beats for $3 billion,” he wrote. “Besides that, just about every other acquisition has been too small for Apple to meet the requirements to report them. We usually only find out about an Apple acquisition after someone in the press reports on it.”
“Apple is obsessed with making its own hardware and software, and keeping high profit margins,” he added. “Peloton makes giant Android tablets with clunky software, connected to exercise gear. Plus, Peloton continues to lose money and its margins would put a drag on Apple’s own margins if the two companies merged.”
As <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/peloton-employees-undergo-anti-racist-training-that-claims-grandfathered-in-blacklisted-are-white-supremacist-terms">The Daily Wire</a> revealed last year, Peloton employees were forced to undergo an “anti-racist” training that claimed common phrases such as “grandfathered in” are “white supremacist” terms. 
The firm’s “Antiracism Activation Center” provided employees with resources on “global perspectives” on racism, “antiracism” strategies for allies, strategies for enacting systemic change, tools for creating race-related conversations at home — including “age-appropriate” resources for families — and a “Brave Conversation Speaker Series.”

Latest Consumer Technology Products On Display At Annual CES In Las Vegas

Peloton Fires CEO And Nearly 3,000 Employees As Speculation About A Big Tech Buyout Grows

Peloton

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