Steve Stoute, who has worked with Jay Z and Nas, among others, is one of many speaking out against comments made by Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling in an audio recording that was recently published by TMZ.
“This is a black eye to sports,” Steve Stoute says in an interview with ESPN’s The Herd with Colin Cowherd.
Stoute is the founder and CEO of the marketing firm Translation, which represents several clients and he says one of his clients, State Farm, is not going to work with the Los Angeles Clippers organization despite having one of the team’s stars, Chris Paul, as its spokesperson and the lead of a Chris Paul/Cliff Paul campaign. Stoute’s Translation also represents other clients, including Sprite and McDonalds. He says he believes a boycott would force Donald Sterling to sell the Los Angeles Clippers.
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“It’s the league itself,” Stoute says. “It’s the businesses that sponsor this team that have to be appalled with that comment and that racist point of view and they have to stop supporting. And it’s the fans that have to say, ‘I am not going to buy tickets or things and support a team that has racist comments.’ if they don’t want African Americans at the game, they don’t want Latinos at the game, they don’t want women at the game…If that’s the feeling, then we all have to stand up and do that. I think the combination of sponsors, owners and the fans boycotting will force the sale of that team.”
Some of Stoute’s statements on the Cowherd show were first made on Twitter. Stoute said the following when news of Sterling’s record was published.
“I’ve been getting calls all day about the statements made by the @LAClippers owner Donald Sterling ‘Steve how is this #tanning?’ It’s not #tanning it’s a racist with hate in his heart expressing his racist ways. If WE let him get away with this we set ourselves back to the 50’s where this mentality was accepted. The fans should boycott the sponsors should boycott ASAP. This is not what the NBA is about.. LA standup and boycott and use your power to cause change.”
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Game also recently announced his hopes for a boycott of the Los Angeles Clippers with a social media post. More regarding his #ESC (Empty Seat Campaign) can be found here. Snoop Dogg and Meek Mill have also responded to the Sterling comments. Those statements can be found here.
RELATED:Snoop Dogg, Meek Mill Blast Los Angeles Clippers Owner Donald Sterling Over Racist Comments
