Story LinkNike withdraws ads criticized as anti-gayPosted by Brent Hunsberger, The Oregonian July 25, 2008 14:47PMNike said today it will drop ads for its Hyperdunk basketball shoes that critics said played off some viewers' homophobia.In its second statement on the controversy, Nike said it would withdraw advertising critics found offensive "to underline our ongoing commitment to supporting diversity in sport and the workplace."Nike spokesman Bob Applegate told The Oregonian that three separate print, poster and billboard ads would be removed "as expeditiously as possible." The ads were created by Portland's Wieden+Kennedy and titled "That Ain't Right," "Isn't That Cute," and "Punks Jump Up." He declined further comment.At least two well-trafficked blogs - Gawker.com and ESPN's TrueHoop -- along with comments posted on Wieden+Kennedy's own blog WKStudio, called on Nike to withdraw at least one ad appearing along the streets and subways of New York City.One ad showed a basketball player dunking over another. The crotch of the player dunking was planted firmly in the other player's face. The ad sported a large tagline: "That Ain't Right."Nike stood by the ads earlier this week, saying the ads were "based purely upon a common insight from within the game of basketball - the athletic feat of dunking on the opposition, and is not intended to be offensive."The statement also reiterated its "history of supporting athletes regardless of their sexual orientation."Nike has been lauded by gay-rights advocates for publicly supporting a 2007 Oregon law banning discrimination against gays in in work, housing and public places.
Something is horribly wrong with the "Isn't That Cute" picture.
