OAN Staff James Meyers
9:30 AM – Tuesday, August 20, 2024
Motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson released a statement on Monday, walking back their recently implemented DEI and other controversial initiatives after the company faced backlash on social media and from loyal customers.
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“It is critical to our business that we hire and retain the best talent and that all employees feel welcome,” the statement reads.
“That said, we have not operated a DEI function since April 2024, and we do not have a DEI function today. We do not have hiring quotas and we no longer have supplier diversity spend goals.”
Additionally, the statement said they would be reassessing employee training initiatives and sponsorships while refocusing on its most loyal bikers.
“As a consumer brand, we will focus exclusively on growing the sport of motorcycling and retaining our loyal riding community, in addition to the support we already provide to first responders, active military members and veterans.”
Harley-Davidson had faced criticism over the years from its longtime customers, who claimed that the company “used” them to build its “bad–s” brand, then left them as the motorcycle’s popularity expanded to more upscale riders.
The controversy began in July when social-media influencer Robby Starbuck revealed multiple internal woke policies at the famous motorcycle company.
“@harleydavidson has been one of the most beloved brands in America but recently on CEO Jochen Zeitz’s watch, they’ve gone totally woke,” Robby Starbuck shared with his more than 528,000 followers on X.
Starbuck applauded Harley’s announcement on Monday.
“We have a movement to bring down DEI and wokeism in corporate America and inject some sanity back into the workplace,” Starbuck said in a phone interview on Monday with Fox News Digital.
“Corporations can’t ignore our movement anymore. They have to take us seriously. They made this statement because we’re obviously having an impact on their customer base.”
The Missouri-based company’s statement noted that it was “saddened by the negativity on social media over the last few weeks, designed to divide the Harley-Davidson community.”
Starbuck responded to the criticism: “They can be saddened all they want. I got the changes we wanted, but we still want the CEO [Jochen Zeitz] gone, too,” he said.
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