"Nike addressed its removal in a statement, saying it 'missed the mark.' The advertisement was to inspire runners at Monday's Boston Marathon, one of the most competitive marathons in the country."
"One Boston marathon runner, Robyn Michaud, shared an image of the poster on Instagram and voiced outrage over the advertisement as a fifth-time time-qualifier in the marathon's adaptive division."
"'Due to a spinal cord injury I HAVE to take walk breaks. Even with a cyst in my spinal cord, I still regularly break 5 hours in Boston and plan to again this weekend,' Michaud wrote on Instagram."
"Near Fenway Park and the marathon course, Asics put up a billboard reading 'Runners. Walkers. All Welcome,' apparently responding to Nike's advertisement."
Nike's advertisement stating 'Runners welcome. Walkers tolerated.' was taken down shortly before the Boston Marathon due to public outrage over its perceived lack of inclusivity. The company acknowledged the misstep, stating it aimed to inspire runners but recognized that one of the signs missed the mark. The removal followed significant online criticism, including from marathon participants like Robyn Michaud, who highlighted the importance of inclusivity for all runners. In contrast, Asics promoted a more welcoming message with their billboard, emphasizing acceptance for both runners and walkers.
Read at Boston.com
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