Lululemon founder’s remarks have some DEI experts calling for boycotts to combat ‘regressive values’

January 6, 2024

A black woman seeking yoga gear, learned that the company’s founder, Chip Wilson, had publicly bashed the notion of the brand embracing diversity. Wilson founded Lululemon in 1998 and stepped down as CEO in 2013, but still owns the majority of the company’s shares, which are valued at $4 billion.

But…during an interview with Forbes, he blasted the company’s “whole diversity and inclusion thing.” He also sounded off on Lululemon’s ads because they featured people he called “unhealthy,” “sickly” and “not inspirational.”

As a result, the company has distanced itself from its founder, who has not had a role in business operations for more than eight years. But still, some customers are wary. NBC News