Colby Covington Rips New Nike Campaign, 'Spineless Sack of S--t Colin Kaepernick'

Nike released a commercial that featured former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick on its social media channels on Monday. The accompanying message was simple: “Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything.”

Not everyone is on board with the message, in large part because of Kaepernick’s controversial decision to kneel during the National Anthem to protest racial injustice beginning in August 2016. Kaepernick’s demonstration sparked a movement that is still ongoing, sparking both outrage and support.

Count former UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington in the former category. The fighter known as “Chaos” ripped Nike and Kaepernick in a recent post to his Twitter account.

“I grew up in Oregon and was around [Nike] my whole life,” Covington wrote. “It’s funny watching a company that uses child slave labor overseas to make their products all of a sudden become humanitarians. [Pat Tillman] is an NFL/American hero. [Kaepernick] is just a spineless sack of s--t. #NikeBoycott”

I grew up in Oregon and was around @Nike my whole life. It's funny watching a company that uses child slave labor overseas to make their products all of a sudden become humanitarians. #PatTillman is an NFL/American Hero. @Kaepernick7 is just a spineless sack of shit. #NikeBoycott

— Colby Covington (@ColbyCovMMA) September 4, 2018

Covington’s reaction probably shouldn’t be surprising. The American Top Team representative is a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, and even visited the White House shortly after capturing the interim crown. Trump who has been strongly opposed to NFL players and other athletes kneeling during the National Anthem, tweeted that Nike is “getting absolutely killed with anger and boycotts” in response to the commercial.

Nike isn’t backing off its campaign, however. The world’s largest shoe and apparel brand will debut the “Just Do It” commercial featuring Kaepernick and other prominent athletes during the NFL’s regular season opener between the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night.

Covington currently does not have a fight booked. He was stripped of the interim belt after being unable to face Tyron Woodley in a championship unification bout at UFC 228. Instead, Woodley will defend the welterweight crown against Darren Till in Saturday’s main event.

Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything. #JustDoIt pic.twitter.com/SRWkMIDdaO

— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) September 3, 2018