Global brand embroiled in scandal over Russian skateboarder: Ukrainians call for boycott
Vans hit by major controversy over interview with a Russian skateboarder (photo: instagram.com/alexeyred)
Popular footwear brand Vans has found itself at the center of a major reputational scandal following a Q&A interview with a Moscow-based skateboarder. The company is being accused of attempting to gloss over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
RBC-Ukraine explains more about the controversy that has already prompted Ukrainians to call for a boycott of the brand.
What is known about the Vans scandal
The well-known manufacturer of sneakers and apparel for extreme sports, Vans, found itself at the center of a scandal on February 3.
The trigger was an interview by the brand’s European division with Russian skateboarder Alexey Krasny. In promoting the piece, Vans described the reason for his move from Moscow to Barcelona as a "sudden change in the geopolitical scene."
This wording sparked outrage among users, as it effectively downplays Russia’s responsibility for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and reduces the war to an abstract "geopolitical shift."
The situation was highlighted by UNITED24 media, after which criticism from the Ukrainian and international communities began spreading rapidly on social media. Users have been tagging the brand’s official accounts en masse, demanding public explanations and an apology.
Recently, @VANS_Europe conducted an interview with a skater from Moscow.
In their introduction, they described Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a “sudden change in the geopolitical scene.”
