• I wrote  this on a Facebook comment section of Under Armour’s advertising of a sports bra that the brilliant Misty Copeland was wearing.  It’s in response to another person telling me that Kevin Plank (CEO of Under Armour) really wasn’t saying all that much….  here’s my response.

Thank you for your information.  However, I’m quite concerned with any business that vocalizes their opinion during such a turbulent time in our country so much so, that their own spokespeople (Misty, The Rock and Steph Curry for example) find it necessary to come out and set the record straight, sort of speak.

Here’s the thing:  I don’t want my country to fail – no matter who’s in office.  I’m not sure any SANE American wants that.  So, if any administration finds the need to reach out to people in business to get answers, to give help or advice, then so be it. I know other organization like Amazon, Tesla and others have met with the Administration trying to assist in the next steps…  I get all of that.  Unfortunately, like UBER, you guys (UA) stepped in it and you stepped in it “bigly”.

You don’t get a pass from me because this is the business you’re in.  You should know better.  And yes, I’m so disappointed. I do love Misty Copeland and she was one of the first reasons I made the change from Nike to UA.  And just yesterday, I bought NIKE shorts online — I haven’t bought from NIKE in a long time but I’m getting ready for a Tough Mudder in March so I bought two pair.  Honestly, I didn’t even flinch at where I was going to purchase my new items… I just did it.

When you guys “step in it” it does something to the subconscious.  And surely, I’m not a supporter of this administration.  But as professionals in this field, you guys should know better.  Maybe the same thing happened with Obama – people got upset with organizations that supported him, I have no idea.  Regardless, just like Uber, you have some mending to do from a PR point of view.  Of course Uber went all out and wrote a letter to its customers, and when I got rid of the APP on my phone, I got a letter from Uber asking me to reconsider and to give them one more shot – then, I was asked to just read a little more information on what the organization is doing to help others, to clear the air.  I linked over and saw a more detailed outline of what they were doing to be on-board with what is MORALLY right – and yes, not lose me to Lyft (I’m not completely clueless that, at the end of the day this is capitalism after all and business is business – I’m fine with that, as long as you have a moral compass as a human being, as a company).

Am I using Uber nowadays?  Not just yet, because I haven’t needed to.  But, I put the app back on my phone and I certainly will next time I need a ride.  I give Uber credit for acknowledging the issue and realizing they probably could have done better initially.  They didn’t deny the mistake.  Or make it sounds like it was just some little thing.

If Under Armour wants my business in the future, it needs to stay out of politics.  Period. Full Stop.  If it chooses to assist OUR COUNTRY in helping any administration, it needs to do so, understanding the ramifications of all of their verbage, and acting accordingly.  I would think this is PR 101.