Humane Society Asks Nike To Cut Vick
Due to the ongoing dogfighting investigation on Michael Vick’s property, the Humane Society requested Nike to dump Vick as one of their spokespersons.
Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, released a letter to Nike on Tuesday.
“We trust that Nike does not want to be associated with any celebrity who is linked to this odious form of animal cruelty,” Pacelle wrote.
“We recognize that Mr. Vick has not been charged with a crime,” Pacelle wrote in his letter. “But we know that Nike has high standards for its spokespersons.”
“At the very least, Mr. Vick was not vigilant enough and an unacceptable situation developed on one of his properties,” Pacelle wrote. “It remains to be seen whether all the personal accounts and information about his role in dogfighting are sufficient to connect Mr. Vick to the alleged dogfighting operation.”
Nike’s response to the Humane Society after the jump.
From SportsIllustrated.com:
Nike spokesman Dean Stoyer said the company planned to honor its lucrative deal with Vick, who worked with the company to design a line of athletic shoes and has been used prominently in advertising campaigns.
“There is no change in the status of the agreement between Nike and football player Michael Vick,” Stoyer said. “He is rightfully presumed innocent and afforded the same due process as any citizen, rather than be tried in the court of public opinion. Nike will continue to monitor the situation, but has nothing further to say at this time.
June 21st, 2007 at 7:22 am
I stopped doing business with Nike a long time ago.
http://www.saigon.com/~nike/
Any company that can pay $19 million for a teenage spokesperson doesn’t need my money anyway.
June 21st, 2007 at 2:24 pm
Not charged with a crime? Alledged? What about the evidence and the eye witnesses who participated in the dog fights?
Once again money and status has as different set of laws.
June 21st, 2007 at 3:46 pm
Here we go again - another corporation more interested in greed and lining the pockets of their CEO’s instead of taking a morally correct stance. Will never buy anything with the Nike name on it again.
Katie
June 21st, 2007 at 5:57 pm
I would be very disinclined to do business with NIKE if they succumded to the demands of an organization like HSUSA or their cohorts, these groups ant an end to all pet animals. Elizabeth Brown
June 21st, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Oh well, guess I won’t be buying Nike products anymore
July 23rd, 2007 at 3:37 pm
HEY, DIY COMPLAINTS TO NIKE!!!
Even though Nike is holdong back on the newest Michael Vick shoes, they still have previous shoes, shirts,etc in stores.
I wrote to them and said that theiy should only endorse people who as as fine as thei shoes. However,their stock ha gone up $1.59.
Nike, Incorporated Shares
One Bowerman Drive Beaverton OR 97005-6453
Phone: (503) 671-6453
Fax: (503) 671-6300
Website ww.nike.com
July 24th, 2007 at 10:13 am
I wrote to Nike Headquarters,I will never buy Nike again if they don’t drop Vick.Animals to me are way more important to me than Status!