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Dwayne Johnson on Pro-Trump Under Armour CEO: ‘His Words Were Divisive’

The Rock makes it clear: Kevin Plank’s praise for the president represents ”neither my words, nor my beliefs“

Beatrice Verhoeven, PWS | February 10, 2017 @ 10:37 AM
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Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has taken to social media to address Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank’s recent praise for Donald Trump, stating that the executive’s words were “neither my words, nor my beliefs” and that Plank’s “words were divisive and lacking in perspective.”

“I appreciate and welcome the feedback from people who disagree (and agree) with Kevin Plank’s words on CNBC, but these are neither my words, nor my beliefs,” he wrote on Instagram on Thursday. “His words were divisive and lacking in perspective, inadvertently creating a situation where the personal political opinions of Under Armour’s partners and its employees were overshadowed by the comments of its CEO.”

Johnson added, “We don’t partner with a brand casually. I partner with brands I trust and with people who share my same values. A commitment to diversity, inclusion, community, open-mindedness and some serious hard work. But it doesn’t mean that I or my team will always agree with the opinion of everyone who works there, including its executives. Great leaders inspire and galvanize the masses during turbulent times, they don’t cause people to divide and disband.”

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Johnson and Under Armour formed a partnership in 2015 to “create products that inspire men, women and kids to stay hungry, humble and always be the hardest workers in the room,” the wrestler-turned-actor wrote on Instagram. The following year, they teamed to launch “Project Rock,” a “motivational lifestyle brand” for athletes that kicked off with a water and abrasion resistant gym bag and later introduced a line of footwear.

I appreciate and welcome the feedback from people who disagree (and agree) with Kevin Plank’s words on CNBC, but these are neither my words, nor my beliefs. His words were divisive and lacking in perspective. Inadvertently creating a situation where the personal political opinions of UA’s partners and its employees were overshadowed by the comments of its CEO. A good company is not solely defined by its CEO. A good company is not defined by the athlete or celebrity who partners with them. A good company is not a single person. A good company is a team, a group of brothers and sisters committed to working together each and every day to provide for their families and one another and the clients they serve. We don’t partner with a brand casually. I partner with brands I trust and with people who share my same values. That means a commitment to diversity, inclusion, community, open-mindedness and some serious hard work. But it doesn’t mean that I or my team will always agree with the opinion of everyone who works there, including its executives. Great leaders inspire and galvanize the masses during turbulent times, they don’t cause people to divide and disband. My responsibility here is not only to the global audience we serve, but also to the thousands of workers who pour blood, sweat, and tears into making Under Armour strong. A diverse group of hardworking men and women who possess integrity, respect and compassion for one another and the world they live in. Debate is healthy. But in a time of widespread disagreement, so is loyalty. I feel an obligation to stand with this diverse team, the American and global workers, who are the beating heart and soul of Under Armour and the reason I chose to partner with them. My commitment is as real as my sweat and callouses that thicken daily. #CommittedToThePeople

A photo posted by therock (@therock) on

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On Tuesday, Plank appeared on CNBC’s “Fast Money Halftime Report,” and said of President Trump, “I think he’s highly passionate. To have such a pro-business president is something that is a real asset for the country. People can really grab that opportunity.”

He added, “He wants to build things, he wants to make bold decisions and be really decisive. I’m a big fan of people that operate in the world of publish and iterate versus think, think, think, think, think. So there’s a lot that I respect there.”

The comments sparked the Twitter hashtag #BoycottUnderArmour, and prompted Under Armour to release an official statement emphasizing their commitment to diversity and respect for “different religions, races, nationalities, genders and sexual orientations.”

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Johnson will not part ways with the clothing company.

“I feel an obligation to stand with this diverse team, the american and global workers, who are the beating heart and soul of Under Armour and the reason I chose to partner with them,” he wrote.

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