On Monday, artists Biji and Conducta condemned Nike for removing a promotional video featuring lyrics that mention ‘Kurdistan’, arguing that the decision threatens artistic expression and marginalises Kurdish voices.
In early July, Nike released an advertisement on its social media platforms as part of its ‘Air for Athletes’ campaign ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. The ad featured a song by Biji and Conducta with the lyrics “I like to wear my gold… like a Kurdish mum… London to Kurdistan”.
The video was warmly received by Kurds online, who celebrated the inclusion of Kurdish identity and culture in the campaign. However, it was heavily criticised by Turkish media and social media users.
Less than two days after its release, the video was removed from all platforms. Biji and Conducta claimed on Monday that Nike had given no explanation for the removal, which they said had negatively affected their image.
“Nike’s silence and failure to address these allegations has damaged our brands and reputation. Artistic expression is a fundamental right and a tool for fostering understanding between cultures. By removing the song with no justification, Kurdish voices have been marginalised,” the artists said.
Stressing that their track was about celebrating culture and spreading love around the world, the musicians insisted that corporations like Nike must be held accountable for perpetuating stereotypes and censoring artistic expression.
“This action sets a dangerous precedent, suggesting that certain cultures do not deserve an international platform,” they added.
Nike has yet to respond to the allegations.