December 2 According to foreign media reports, Nike recently posted a video advertisement on social media describing bullying and discrimination against ethnic minorities such as mixed-race athletes and Koreans in Japan. The advertisement has aroused strong dissatisfaction on the Internet, and even some netizens called for a boycott of Nike.
According to Al Jazeera, Nike Japan released a video advertisement against bullying and racism. The advertisement is called “Forward: You, the future”. It describes the story of several girls who were bullied in school due to racial differences and eventually regained their confidence through football. Among them, there are pictures about a girl whose father is black. Her classmates surround her, shouting at her and pulling her hair.
As of December 2, the video has received more than 14.1 million views and nearly 64,000 likes, but it has also received many criticisms, many people have promised not to buy Nike products again. One netizen commented: “Now, you often see children of different ethnic groups go to school peacefully and friendly. It is Nike who is biased.” Another netizen asked, “Is it really interesting to blame Japan?”
Nike Japan said on its website that Nike believes in the transformative nature of sports and that “for a long time, the company has listened to minority voices, supported and voiced about events that are consistent with the company’s values.”
“We believe that sport has the ability to present a better world and to bring people together,” the company stressed. Overseas Network An Zaierjiang)
