Getty Image / Nike
On July 1st, Nike was scheduled to release a new Air Max 1 in celebration of America’s upcoming Independence Day. The shoes were colored red, white and blue, and featured an embroidered 13-star “Betsy Ross” American flag on the heel. It was never “offically” released.
That’s because former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick apparently contacted Nike and requested that the shoe not be released because he felt the flag being used was offensive because it coincided with the slavery era of Amercia and has been co-opted by several white nationalist groups.
Many, including Shark Tank investor Kevin O’Leary believed that the entire controversy was nothing more than a manufactured marketing ploy. A ploy that ended up resulting in Nike stock to increase and adding $3 billion in value to the company.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMIvarxgyhw
On top of that, a few pairs of the “Betsy Ross” Air Max 1 did make it to market when retailer Finishline released the shoes in-store. Other retailers have also stated that they still have their shipments of the shoe in stock, just not available to general public for purchase.
That hasn’t stopped them from appearing on eBay with one current listing boasting a current bid of $10,600.
On Tuesday, because why the hell not, none other than double murderer (allegedly) O.J. Simpson decided to chime in on Colin Kaepernick and the “Betsy Ross” shoe drama in celebration (?) of his 72nd birthday.
“Lately, I saw where Kaepernick pointed out that the Betsy Ross flag was being used by some negative groups as their symbol,” said The Juice. “I say don’t let the negative win. As far as I’m concerned, that flag represents the birth of America.”
Celebrating my 33rd Annual 39th Birthday. pic.twitter.com/nl0zIj3dHR
— O.J. Simpson (@TheRealOJ32) July 9, 2019
Uh, yeah… thanks for the life lessons, Juice.
As one would expect (and he certainly had to expect), the folks on Twitter had a lot of fun with O.J. and his inane video.
https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/1148642391651434497Tell me about those haters, Juice.
— Brandon.Stewart (@LionheartDTX) July 10, 2019
Found the real killers yet?
— Jeffrey Collins (@Collinstaxacct) July 10, 2019
Happy Birthday OJ! You not look a day over MURDERER
— Ooga Neanderthalensis💀 (@CavemanOoga) July 9, 2019
OJ... I’ll play u match play... loser goes to prison??
— Matthew Barnaby (@MattBarnaby3636) July 10, 2019
Your passion for finding the real killers is awe inspiring.
— woods (@thestevenwoods) July 9, 2019
I try to actively avoid golf courses where murderers play.
— Timothy Sweeney (@tsweeney5375) July 10, 2019
*kills two people*
“There are a lot of haters out there”— Derek Kudjer (@koojababy) July 9, 2019