The Business of Fashion
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
The NBA player is no longer a Nike athlete, the brand told BoF.
Earlier on Monday, The Athletic reported that Nike had parted ways with Irving after suspending him on Nov. 4, when the NBA player shared a link to a film with anti-semitic views and initially refused to apologise for his actions. The brand also paused the release of Irving’s Kyrie 8 sneakers.
The Nike endorsement saw the Brooklyn Nets player receive $11 million per year since 2011, according to sports business publication Sportico. Last season, 50 NBA players wore his signature sneakers — which Nike first launched in 2014 — second only to the late Kobe Bryant’s Nike sneaker franchise.
Irving’s dismissal comes as sportswear brands are coming under increasing public scrutiny for the actions of their high-profile collaborators. In October, Adidas terminated its partnership with Ye, the artist and designer previously known as Kanye West, following a string of controversies, including a series of anti-semitic comments.
ADVERTISEMENT
Earlier today, Irving shared a meme on Twitter with the wording: “There’s nothing more priceless than being free.”
Learn more:
Can Adidas Move On From Yeezy?
Top of incoming CEO Bjørn Gulden’s in-tray will be dealing with unsold Yeezy inventory and reversing the brand’s steep decline in China.
From analysis of the global fashion and beauty industries to career and personal advice, BoF’s founder and CEO, Imran Amed, will be answering your questions on Sunday, February 18, 2024 during London Fashion Week.
The State of Fashion 2024 breaks down the 10 themes that will define the industry in the year ahead.
Imran Amed reviews the most important fashion stories of the year and shares his predictions on what this means for the industry in 2024.
After three days of inspiring talks, guests closed out BoF’s gathering for big thinkers with a black tie gala followed by an intimate performance from Rita Ora — guest starring Billy Porter.