Reactions to Beyoncé Declining a Deal With Reebok 2019
In a Boss Move, Beyoncé Reportedly Declined to Work With Reebok Due to Diversity Issues
On Thursday, news broke that Beyoncé closed a sweet deal to collaborate with Adidas and relaunch her activewear line, Ivy Park. But apparently, that wasn't the only athletic wear company that was on Bey's radar. In Friday's episode of ESPN's NBA show The Jump, writer Nick DePaula remembered a meeting the "Run the World" singer had with Reebok. They explored the idea of working together, but there was reportedly one thing that didn't sit well with Beyoncé.
"They had a whole presentation of everything, potential products, how this could all look," Nick recalled. "And she took a step back and said, 'Is this the team that will be working on my product,' and somebody said, 'Yes,' and she said, 'Nobody in this room reflects my background, my skin colour, where I'm from, and what I want to do.' So, she took a step back and left."
Reebok has since disputed the claim, but the important takeaway from the reported anecdote is that it's so important for companies to review their hiring process as well as the backgrounds of those who are in positions to make major decisions. If a business wants to broaden their reach and provide a service or product to a heterogeneous consumer base, it's incredibly vital to have people who reflect the real world, which is full of diverse stories and narratives. But I digress.
Naturally, the Beyhive — and anyone who appreciates celebrities who practice what they preach — has been buzzing, and conversations about representation in large corporations have taken over Twitter (along with some hilarious memes). Read on to see some of the best reactions to Bey's power move!
