Jenifer Lewis, a series regular on ABC’s Emmy-nominated “Black-ish,” showed up to the 2018 Emmy awards rocking a Nike outfit in support of Colin Kaepernick and the company’s decision to make the athlete the face of their new advertising campaign.
“I am wearing Nike to applaud them for supporting Colin Kaepernick and his protest against racial injustice and police brutality,” Lewis told Variety on the Emmys red carpet.
Prior to the red carpet, Lewis was asking what she could do to lend her voice to Kaepernick’s cause. “What can I do? What can I do that’s meaningful? I’ll wear Nike,” she said. “I’ll wear Nike to say thank you. Thank you for leading the resistance! We need more corporate America to stand up also.”
Nike announced at the start of September that Kaepernick would lead their new “Just Do It” campaign. Kaepernick started a national debate by kneeling during the National Anthem in protest of the mistreatment of African Americans in the U.S. The act of kneeling during the National Anthem earned Kaepernick backlash, and Nike’s decision to put the athlete front and center in its new ad campaign led to even more anger from detractors.
“Thank you, Colin. Thank you for all that you do,” Lewis said on the Emmys red carpet. “Thank you for being brave. Thank you for being courageous. Thank you for taking a knee. Thank you.”
“Black-ish” is nominated for five Emmys this year, including outstanding comedy series. Lewis’ co-stars Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross are nominated in the lead acting categories.
Jenifer Lewis’ message to Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7): “Thank you Colin. Thank you for all that you do. Thank you for being brave. Thank you for being courageous. Thank you for taking a knee. Thank you” #Emmys https://t.co/DApUrVDBlu pic.twitter.com/a5OoMxAKMh
— Variety (@Variety) September 17, 2018
Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
