Subway customers in the US are reportedly boycotting the brand after its latest ad campaign starred captain of the US women football team, Megan Rapinoe.
According to Business Insider, several branches of the sandwich franchise have received angry letters and messages on social media after Rapinoe appeared in a series of TV adverts for the company.
Rapinoe, who just returned from Tokyo with a bronze medal after defeating Australia in the medal game, stars in the campaign alongside other sporting luminaries including Serena Williams, Tom Brady and Steph Curry. Check out the ad below:
The 36-year-old Rapinoe has famously been a staunch anti-Trump campaigner and refused to attend a Trump-hosted White House event in 2019 after the US team won the women’s World Cup. The two regularly trade barbs on Twitter.
Rapinoe has also been an active supporter of the Black Lives Matters movement by taking the knee during the national anthem.
There had also been false allegations that she once stomped on the American flag.
This has led to Rapinoe’s detractors to label her as “woke” and “unAmerican”. According to reports, her enemies back in the States even cheered when the US team lost matches at the recent Olympic Games.
All this has led to a backlash at some Subway restaurants.
One branch of Subway reportedly found a note on its front door reading: “Boycott Subway until Subway fires the anti-American.”
According to Business Insider, some branch managers have also complained about the backlash with one person saying: “By knowingly hiring a flashpoint personality to represent the brand with our money, the franchisor has failed.”
Right-wing commentators in the US have also been tweeting their anger at Rapinoe’s association with the Subway brand.
Despite all this, Subway’s senior director of brand communications Brad Simon told USA Today: “Megan is one of several athletes and celebrities Subway partners with, but they are not the official company spokesperson.”
While another franchisee of Subway also told Business Insider: “If there is negative pressure, it is not hurting much. I think we need a broad spectrum of spokespeople that appeal to different groups.”
