Ever since one of its executives made statements in support of President-elect Donald Trump, New Balance has been under fire ( literally in some cases).
The right wing website The Daily Stormer proclaimed New Balance the “Official Shoes of White People”, following New Balance’s VP of public affairs Matt LeBretton’s comments to the Wall Street Journal that Trump’s election was a move in the “right direction.”
New Balance has this to say in a statement:
As a 110-year-old company with five factories in the U.S. and thousands of employees worldwide from all races, genders, cultures and sexual orientations, New Balance is a values-driven organization and culture that believes in humanity, integrity, community and mutual respect for people around the world.
The company also said to the Associated Press Monday that it “does not tolerate bigotry or hate in any form.” Additionally, New Balance said LeBretton’s comments were taken out of context and that he was merely referencing Mr. Trump’s opposition to a proposed international trade agreement that the company also is not in favor of.
In a statement from the company last week: “New Balance has a unique perspective on trade in that we want to make more shoes in the US, not less.”
