• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster

2

Meet a 71-year-old who retired as a radiologist and professor, and now runs a banana-skewer business: ‘I never want to retire. Why would you do that?’

3

China suffers another setback in effort to de-dollarize global finance as anchor in the greenback's dominance quietly exits Beijing's payment scheme

1

Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster

2

Meet a 71-year-old who retired as a radiologist and professor, and now runs a banana-skewer business: ‘I never want to retire. Why would you do that?’

3

China suffers another setback in effort to de-dollarize global finance as anchor in the greenback's dominance quietly exits Beijing's payment scheme
RetailUnder Armour

The Rock Has Become the Next Under Armour Athlete to Disown CEO Kevin Plank’s Pro-Trump Comments

By
Joseph Hincks
Joseph Hincks
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Joseph Hincks
Joseph Hincks
Down Arrow Button Icon
February 10, 2017, 12:32 AM ET
Google source logo
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

It appears athlete-cum-actor Dwayne Johnson is holding fast to at least one of his old wresting monikers: “The People’s Champion.”

In a statement posted on his Facebook page Thursday Johnson—popularly known as “The Rock”—criticized the CEO of his sponsor Under Armour (UAA) for praising Trump.

“His words were divisive and lacking in perspective,” Johnson wrote. “Inadvertently creating a situation where the personal political opinions of Under Armor’s partners and its employees were overshadowed by the comments of its CEO.”

Johnson is not the first Under Armour athlete to distance himself from pro-Trump comments made by company CEO Kevin Plank. On Wednesday, NBA star Stephen Curry slammed Plank’s assertion that “such a pro-business president” was “a real asset for the country.”

“I agree with that description if you remove the ‘et’ from asset,” said Curry, who is under contact with Under Armour until 2024.

Ballerina Misty Copeland, who has appeared in Under Armour adverts, has also said that she “strongly disagreed” with Plank’s views, adding in a statement that she’d spoken with her CEO “at length” about the issue.

Baltimore-based Under Armour is the latest in a succession of U.S. brands being asked to essentially pick a side in an increasingly polarized political environment, writes Fortune’s John Kell. Nordstrom (JWN), Uber (UBER), Starbucks (SBUX), Kellogg (K), and others have all recently been mired in Trump-related controversy.

However, in their statements distancing themselves from Plank’s comments, athletes Johnson, Curry, and Copeland all also reaffirmed their commitment to the sports apparel brand.

“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,” Johnson wrote.

Last year, various outlets reported that “The Rock” was considering making a bid for president in 2020. Some suggested he could win.

About the Author
By Joseph Hincks
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Retail


Most Popular

Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

    Latest in Retail


    Most Popular

    © 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
    FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.