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Nike Pulls Betsy Ross Flag Sneakers After Colin Kaepernick Complains They're Offensive

Leah Barkoukis
Leah Barkoukis  |  July 02, 2019 6:05 AM

Nike pulled its Betsy Ross flag sneaker even before they ever hit store shelves.

The Air Max 1 USA sneakers were supposed to go on sale at the start of the July Fourth week, but the company abruptly asked retailers to return them.

The decision came after Colin Kaepernick decided they were offensive.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the heel of the shoe had the Betsy Ross flag, a version of the flag that has 13 white stars in a circle to represent the original colonies.

“Nike has chosen not to release the Air Max 1 Quick Strike Fourth of July as it featured the old version of the American flag,” a Nike spokeswoman told WSJ.

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After images of the shoe were posted online, Mr. Kaepernick, a Nike endorser, reached out to company officials saying that he and others felt the Betsy Ross flag is an offensive symbol because of its connection to an era of slavery, the people said. Some users on social media responded to posts about the shoe with similar concerns. Mr. Kaepernick declined to comment. (WSJ)

Many on social media were outraged over the decision.