Nike’s Betsy Ross-era flag sneakers are selling online for as much as $2.5K after woke football “star” Colin Kaepernick’s criticism led the company to recall them.
The Nike Air Max 1 USA shoe sold for $1,000 or more on resale marketplace StockX after news of Nike’s decision went public. A size 8 pair sold for $2,500.
Prices started to reach $3,000 before the company took the shoe off the site. StockX CEO Scott Cutler decided to end the sale of the sneakers because they did not "align" with the company’s values.
The shoes have a retail value of $120.
The Air Max 1’s feature a Betsy Ross-era flag which Kaepernick, a Nike endorser, said was offensive because it represents an era of slavery. Nike pulled the shoe after hearing the former NFL quarterback’s concerns.
The sneakers were set to go on sale for the fourth of July, and had been shipped to social media influencers and Nike retailers.
Michael Stone, chairman of Beanstalk Group, told the New York Post that this emerging black-market is normal.
“Products that get pulled from the market become collectibles. It’s the nature of the beast,” Stone said. “You think everyone is going to send them back? Especially if there’s the opportunity to make $2,500?”
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Nike’s decision to recall the shoe was met with backlash from conservative figures. Most notably, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey announced Tuesday that he would be pulling all financial incentives to Nike for building a manufacturing plant in his state.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Fox News Host Laura Ingraham both tweeted that they would boycott Nike.
Two Democratic governors, however, have supported Nike's decision.
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and California Gov. Gavin Newsom both tweeted in favor of Nike and welcomed the company to do business in their respective states.
Nike's latest controversy comes a year after they decided to make Kaepernick the face of their "Just Do It" campaign. The former San Francisco 49er made headlines when he decided to kneel during the national anthem to protest police brutality.
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