New Sign at Boston Nike Store Somehow Makes Things Worse
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Nike, which recently ignited a social media firestorm with a controversial sign at its Boston store, has responded with another sign that appears to be making a bad situation worse.
The initial controversy involved a sign at the brand’s retail location on Boston’s Newbury Street. The sign, displayed with the Boston Marathon just days away, read, “RUNNERS WELCOME. WALKERS TOLERATED.” Many saw it as denigrating walkers and others who don’t, or can’t, run—and took to social media to say so.
Nike swiftly removed the sign and apologized. That might have been the end of the story if a second sign hadn’t appeared hours later.
The new sign, still up as of this writing, reads, “WE’RE NOT ANTI-WALKER. SOME OF OUR BEST FRIENDS ARE WALKERS.”
Apparently intended to lower the temperature, the new sign raised it instead.
“WTF?” read a typical comment on Instagram, reacting to a photo of the new sign.
“This is how my racist uncle ‘proves’ he isn’t racist,” read another. “Unbelievable.”
Reached for comment, a Nike spokesperson told Dumb Runner they didn’t see the problem with their messaging.
“We love walkers,” the spokesperson said. “We have a ton of walker friends, ask anybody.”
“I mean, should walkers and runners date and marry, and stuff like that?” they added. “Probably not. But we have nothing against them as people.”
“Wait,” said the spokesperson. “Are you recording this?”
