Former Olympian Caitlyn Jenner slammed Nike after it named social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney its brand ambassador.
On April 6, Jenner took to Twitter and expressed disapproval of the paid partnership with Mulvaney. Both Jenner and Mulvaney identify as transgender women. Jenner was previously known as Bruce Jenner.
“As someone that grew up in awe of what Phil Knight did, it is a shame to see such an iconic American company go so woke! We can be inclusive but not at the expense of the mass majority of people, and have some decency while being inclusive. This is an outrage,” Jenner wrote.
Jenner responded to a tweet written by media personality Oli London, calling out Nike for cutting track star Allyson Felix’s original deal with the brand by 70% after she got pregnant.
EQUALITY > INCLUSIVITY (STOP TRYING TO ERASE WOMEN). The differences between men and women are real and are a good thing! It doesn’t make trans ppl a bad thing, either. Why is it so black and white with the RADICAL RAINBOW MAFIA?! https://t.co/iRh7NNsfFa
— Caitlyn Jenner (@Caitlyn_Jenner) April 6, 2023
In a follow-up tweet, Jenner also called out the LGBT community and referred to it as the “radical rainbow mafia.”
“EQUALITY > INCLUSIVITY (STOP TRYING TO ERASE WOMEN). The differences between men and women are real and are a good thing! It doesn’t make trans ppl a bad thing, either,” Jenner continued.
Jenner’s response came after Nike signed Mulvaney to a brand deal that would pay him up to $150,000 for each social media post that promotes the women’s sportswear, according to U.K Daily Mail.
Female swimmer Riley Gaines also called out Nike for it’s partnership with Mulvaney, per U.K Daily Mail.
“Nike joins the growing list of companies who find it acceptable disrespect (sic) women by making a sad mockery of what being a woman entails,” she said.
She added, “The message Nike sends to all girls and women is that men can do everything better.”
Gaines has also been very vocal about biological men participating in women’s sports.
On March 26, Gaines blasted ESPN on Twitter after it featured Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer, in a special for Women’s History Month.
“Lia Thomas is not a brave, courageous woman who EARNED a national title. He is an arrogant, cheat who STOLE a national title from a hardworking, deserving woman. The [National Collegiate Athletic Association] is responsible,” she wrote in the caption of ESPN’s video.