- HyperDunk
http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/26/news/companies/nike_hyperdunk_ads.ap/index.htm?postversion=2008072610
So Nike pulled these ads. They were causing controversy based on the fact that perhaps they’re insulting to the gay community.
If I were Nike, I would have handled this with a different type of damage control. Not only would I reiterate what these ads truly mean in the world of basketball, I would show support of the gay community through different promotions, relationships and opportunities.
I think that these ads have been taken completely out of context.Taking out any personal beliefs on this issue, Nike did have a responsibility to respond to this issue. I think that there should always be damage control. I do, however think that Nike did the wrong thing in pulling these ads.
Nike could have taken this as an opportunity to work on their relationship with the gay communities.
I think their decision to pull the ads was hasty and I think they didn’t put enough thought into the process. They were scared and the last thing that any organization wants is to have an entire community against you.
Simply put, I wouldn’t have pulled the ads. I would have given a press conference explaining the ads in their entirety, and then I would have taken the brand and immersed it in different support systems for the gay community. How about a gay athlete foundation? That may sound lame, but I think it gets my point across.
What do you think?
