Nike has said it will use American football player Colin Kaepernick in its "Just Do It" 30th anniversary advertising campaign. Mr Kaepernick started a controversy in 2016 while playing for his team the San Francisco 49ers. He refused to stand for the national anthem as a protest against racial injustice. Instead he knelt down on one knee. This started a trend among other players. Kaepernick's actions caused heated debate. In September 2017, Donald Trump tweeted that NFL players should be either fired or suspended if they did not stand up for the national anthem.
Nike sponsors the NFL and provides uniforms for its teams. It will use Kaepernick's face with the caption: "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything." The company said: "We believe Colin is one of the most inspirational athletes of this generation, who has [used] the power of sport to help move the world forward." Yahoo Sports said: "It's an interesting decision for Nike. No other athlete produces the same emotional response as Kaepernick." Many on social media criticized Nike. One person tweeted: "Time to throw away all my Nike crap."