Category: Controversy

  • Extinguishing the Fire

    Crisis management is one of the most important aspects of public relations. For a company as big as Nike, the importance is doubled. From its controversial Colin Kaepernick advertisement in 2018, to various lawsuits, to the recent Kyrie Irving and Ja Morant incidents and much more, Nike’s crisis management and communications team have kept the…

  • Empire Strikes Down

    After nearly 20 years of tension, Nike recently filed a lawsuit against popular Japanese streetwear brand A Bathing Ape (Bape). Nike claimed that the brand’s “business revolves around copying Nike’s iconic designs.” As seen pictured above, the Bape “Bapestas” are almost identical to Nike’s famous Air Force 1–which prompted Nike to finally file for trademark…

  • Friends and Foes

    Nike vs. Adidas: The biggest brand rivalry of all time. We know both as staples–giants–in the athletic apparel industry. Both have been around for more than 50 years and are still standing strong. But how different (and alike) are they? Nike is an American company, started by Phil Knight as “Blue Ribbon Sports” in 1964.…

  • The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

    With success comes controversy. Especially for a major company like Nike. In late October of 2022, NBA star Kyrie Irving posted a link to an anitsemitic film to his Twitter account. Although he later apologized to “all Jewish families and communities that are hurt and affected from [his] post”, he was suspended a week later…