Colin Kaepernick’s new Nike AD which was aired on Thursday as a NFL season opener caused quite the stir on social media! People from all walks of life piped in, even the president of the United States!

The two-minute commercial showcased many influential black athletes, Lebron James, Serena Williams, U.S women’s national soccer team, Canadian national team/MLS soccer player and African refugee Alphonso Davies and Shaquill Griffin, a one-handed former University of Central Florida linebacker who made the Seattle Seahawks’ roster last weekend. The advert  run during, “NBC’s telecast didn’t air until 10:52 p.m. ET — the first timeout of the third quarter.”  The advert starts with Kaepernick’s voice ringing in the background, “If people say your dreams are crazy, if they laugh at what you think you can do, good,” Kaepernick says at the start of the ad. “Stay that way because what non-believers fail to understand is that calling a dream crazy is not an insult, it’s a compliment.” The advert continues referencing as many minority groups that are around in sport today. It holds a powerful message, to encourage ANYONE to achieve their goals. The ad also came with a lot of commentary and criticism from the online space, from the right wing camp burning Nike products to make a political statement, to celebrities coming out to support Kapaernick personally. Others believed Nike did well in creating a PR stunt off the back of political controversy, referencing a similar tokenization with hijabed Muslim women.

Many celebs appeared on social media in support of Kapaernick and the advert…

https://twitter.com/serenawilliams/status/1037437372433149952

Especially proud to be a part of the Nike family today. #justdoit pic.twitter.com/GAZtkAIwbk

— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) September 4, 2018

https://twitter.com/KingJames/status/1037425215653982209

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1038018199449567232

https://twitter.com/darrenrovell/status/1036697374452867072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwjla.com%2Fnews%2Fentertainment%2Fbeautiful-or-brand-suicide-celebrities-react-to-nikes-kaepernick-ad-campaign

https://twitter.com/russellcrowe/status/1036770791805710336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwjla.com%2Fnews%2Fentertainment%2Fbeautiful-or-brand-suicide-celebrities-react-to-nikes-kaepernick-ad-campaign

https://twitter.com/common/status/1036748513118322688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwjla.com%2Fnews%2Fentertainment%2Fbeautiful-or-brand-suicide-celebrities-react-to-nikes-kaepernick-ad-campaign

Many took it as an opportunity to showcase racist vitriol

https://twitter.com/McNutty116/status/1036798319010488320

Others referenced the political context

https://twitter.com/YedIin/status/1036819157868834816

https://twitter.com/hodakatebi/status/1036781294712180739

https://twitter.com/sukarma49/status/1037037456246415361

https://twitter.com/PrairiePhlox/status/1036776543333179393

https://twitter.com/Officialn00r/status/1037881722640183297

https://twitter.com/swaggiesurfing/status/1037070545244827649

https://twitter.com/pyrocoriolis/status/1037154705951084544

https://twitter.com/niaaspencer/status/1036956938741972993

https://twitter.com/DvnielHernandez/status/1036887972254085120

https://twitter.com/mike_58stingray/status/1037835449232961536

https://twitter.com/ASM_AntiSocial/status/1037064330334879744

Meanwhile, at least one veteran accused Nike of “selling its soul” by using Kaepernick as a spokesman.

Others just wanted to pipe in

https://twitter.com/NikoWavyWavy/status/1037182494959759360

https://twitter.com/imaniarts_/status/1037847617236025344

Fans Defended Kapaernick

https://twitter.com/SabineResists/status/1037870646561136640

https://twitter.com/vJamaalv/status/1037900336428720129

https://twitter.com/nbryans2/status/1036728795565359105

https://twitter.com/LordDorndigaffe/status/1037047317348605952

https://twitter.com/DoctorJonPaul/status/1037804947218128896

https://twitter.com/ABC7/status/1037445547425034240

https://twitter.com/NickSNoonan/status/1037531000757280768

https://twitter.com/pheonajames_/status/1037570020656721920

https://twitter.com/thelittleidiot/status/1037730593486909440

https://twitter.com/rektredpill/status/1038021065736376326

https://twitter.com/DiamondLynne1/status/1037903126634876928

https://twitter.com/tinomafi/status/1037425454490079232

Some called it a smart PR stunt on Nike’s part

https://twitter.com/Pamela39372188/status/1037425806849597440

https://twitter.com/JulianSales2/status/1036755242443059205

https://twitter.com/gabfab59/status/1037878212838055936