Why Nike Pulled Its 'Betsy Ross' American Flag-Inspired Sneakers From Store Shelves?

Nike (NKE) has made the decision to pull a sneaker design that features a “Betsy Ross” American flag because former NFL football player Colin Kaepernick thinks it is offensive, the Wall Street Journal reported.

A source for the news outlet indicated that Kaepernick told Nike that it should not sell the shoe because he and others consider the early American flag with 13 stars in a circle offensive. He reportedly contacted Nike officials, saying that the “Betsy Ross” flag located on the shoe was linked to a period of slavery.

The Betsy Ross flag was created in the 1770s and was flown during the American Revolution, representing the 13 original colonies and has been associated with white supremacy following that time period. Nike released the shoes to celebrate the 4^th of July holiday, according to the news outlet

“Nike has chosen not to release the Air Max 1 Quick Strike Fourth of July as it featured an old version of the American flag,” Nike told CNBC in a statement.

To remove the shoes from circulation, Nike has asked its retailers to return the shipped shoes, and they have been removed from the company’s mobile app and website, the WSJ reported. The shoes, however, have made their way into the hands of some sneaker enthusiasts and websites, selling for as much as $2,500, according to the StockX’s website.

Kaepernick showcased his freedom of speech by choosing not to stand for the national anthem during the 2016 NFL preseason football game. His choice to kneel was in protest for racial injustice. He has been supported and criticized for his actions and is currently an NFL free agent.

Kaepernick also became a spokesperson for Nike with a 30^th-anniversary promotion of its “Just Do It” tagline.

Shares of Nike stock were down 0.49 percent as of 10:12 a.m. ET on Tuesday.