Nike reveals inspiring new ad narrated by Colin Kaepernick

Nike has released its first 30th anniversary “Just Do It” ad featuring Colin Kaepernick, and it leans into the controversy stirred this week when the ousted National Football League star and frequent target of President Donald Trump was announced as the face of the campaign.

One such person was John Rich, of country band Big & Rich, who said that the band’s soundman – a former Marine – had played his part in the protest and had cut the Nike’s trademark “swoosh” sign off his socks. The NFL is still grappling with the firestorm that Kaepernick started two years ago when he sat and later knelt during the National Anthem to protest police brutality and racial injustice. Nike’s stock took a major blow on Tuesday when thousands of angry Americans filmed themselves burning their Nike gear and posted them on social media with the hashtag #JustBurnIt.

However, 50 Cent shared the image in a playful way, saying, “Yeezy be saying some bulls**t but he still ours meaning Hip Hop”, writes 50.

“Yeah. First of all, I do have tremendous respect for Nike as a company and for Phil Knight and just everything they’ve meant to sports”, Jones said. “What the f**k would have happen if he wasn’t there?”

Other athletes in the “Just Do It” campaign include Odell Beckham Jr., Shaquem Griffin, Lacey Baker, Serena Williams and LeBron James.

I believe in fair trade even if it means sacrificing everything.

The team at Buckingham Research believes Nike’s move will ultimately pay off as the company targets “younger millennial and urban demographics”, as cited by Reuters. But it was back up shortly after the ad was released (turns out the market was volatile) and Nike apparently received primarily positive feedback and publicity from the ad spot.

It also will run online across various music, gaming and entertainment platforms, Nike said.

According to reports, a Nike commercial featuring Kaepernick is scheduled to debut during the NFL’s regular-season opener between the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night. The ad apparently likens acts of genuine heroism, which it illustrates, with Kaepernick’s much ballyhooed statement, “Believe in something”.