Big & Rich singer John Rich goes on Twitter tirade over Nike's Colin Kaepernick campaign: 'Just saying what millions of us think'
While many are applauding Nike over its decision to feature Colin Kaepernick in a new ad campaign, country singer John Rich isn’t clapping on the sidelines.
The Big & Rich singer, who appeared on Donald Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice, ripped the brand’s decision to make Kaepernick the face of its “Just Do It” 30th anniversary campaign — and showed off some ripped-up Nike socks, which he said belonged to a sound engineer for the band, for good measure. He also ranted about the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback’s “pig socks,” which Kaepernick wore while taking a knee on the field during the national anthem, and took jabs at people who criticized his point of view — of which there were many.
Rich’s first tweet showed Kaepernick’s “pig socks” with a pattern of a cartoon pig in a police officer uniform, which was an obvious jab at law enforcement in the athlete’s Black Lives Matter protest. The “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)” singer, 44, said he’s boycotting the brand.
Hey @Nike I guess you made @Kaepernick7 your new “face” of the brand because you love the way his socks look with your shoes? @Reebok here we come. #WeStand @TomiLahren @greggutfeld @kilmeade @RedneckRiviera pic.twitter.com/tgtbl8VFzv
— John Rich (@johnrich) September 3, 2018
When asked by a fan why Rich can’t “disagree but still respect the same rights of others,” Rich said that the discussion ended for him when Kaepernick compared “police to PIGS.” (For what it’s worth, the word “pig” has been used as a derogatory term for police for decades.)
When you compare police to PIGS, this ends the discussion for me. If you don't find a problem with that, then feel free to unfollow me. The police JUST SHOWED UP at our concert to protect and serve, I'll ask them what they think and get back to you… https://t.co/S7KwlTeZos
— John Rich (@johnrich) September 3, 2018
After moving on from his “pig socks” comments, Rich posted a picture of cut-up socks that he said belonged to a Big & Rich road crew member. He predicted there will be mass boycott of the brand and said Nike’s stock prices would immediately drop.
Our Soundman just cut the Nike swoosh off his socks. Former marine. Get ready @Nike multiply that by the millions. pic.twitter.com/h8kj6RXe7j
— John Rich (@johnrich) September 3, 2018
In a follow-up tweet, Rich promised they would later be burned, which others have been doing and documenting on Twitter.
Yea, and he's burning them as soon as we get to Nashville. You can bet your ass on that big shot. https://t.co/l7jJULVRSU
— John Rich (@johnrich) September 3, 2018
Other Twitter users — famous and not — laughed at the protest.
This is hilarious. I mean like, actually funny. Poor things. https://t.co/cODuNTek4N
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) September 4, 2018
Looks like he’s never used scissors before.
— Rob Tannenbaum (@tannenbaumr) September 3, 2018
So, your soundman was “protesting at the workplace”…? Interesting. pic.twitter.com/BQIlgSinhh
— FeelHood 🌊 (@FeelHood) September 4, 2018
The socks that he already gave @nike money for? 🤔 Yeah….
That'll teach em 🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/Ev1pRKueVx— Mik (@Steelworkerkim) September 4, 2018
Not his socks! Oh my God. How epic. I bet Nike is calling for an emergency board meeting as we speak. “Hey, some guy’s sound guy just cut his socks. What the hell are we going to do???”
— Steve Bouchard (@sbouchard67) September 4, 2018
— DW: The whistle…. (@HanauGirl) September 4, 2018
Rich continued his rant.
The fact that I have to explain that MOST of us own @nike products prior to this "Revelation" that Mr. #PIGSOCKS #ColinKaepernick is now their poster man, let's me know you're smoking too much, and are probably living in your parents basement. https://t.co/uhR7aKRCCk
— John Rich (@johnrich) September 3, 2018
Which included a lot of “#PIGSOCKS” tweets…
I'm owned? Nah, just saying what millions of us think. The difference is I don't care about the firestorm. If you support #PIGSOCKS then the conversation is over anyway. https://t.co/9cOfQOZmOF
— John Rich (@johnrich) September 4, 2018
…as well as calling those who disagreed with him “snowflakes.”
Bring it snowflake.
— John Rich (@johnrich) September 4, 2018
He later added that he supports “every American’s right to protest whatever they want,” but added that he would be boycotting Nike.
I support every American's right to protest whatever they want. However, if you endorse someone who wears #PIGSOCKS that's where you lose me. If @nike wants their "swoosh" to be associated with calling our police "Pigs" then so be it. I have a right to not buy their products.
— John Rich (@johnrich) September 4, 2018
Rich, who has been making country hits as part of Big & Rich since 1998, hasn’t been shy about his political views. His group was tapped to perform at Trump’s pre-inaugural gala. Rich got to know the future president when he won Celebrity Apprentice in 2011. He said that Trump told him back then that he planned to run for president.
The president has been critical of Kaepernick and other NFL stars protesting in the past. He has yet to weigh in about Nike’s new campaign.
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