News/Commentary

Harley Davidson forgets core customers, falls into woke DEI mode, feels Americans’ backlash

July 24, 2024 | | Print Article

A knock from conservative filmmaker Robby Starbuck put Harley-Davidson under the “go woke, go broke” microscope over their alleged “total commitment” to DEI policies.

In the vein of sunshine being the best disinfectant, dragging the behaviors of ideologically driven corporations into the light has proven effective at encouraging course corrections away from leftism. As Tractor Supply and John Deere had already bailed on Marxist agendas, Starbuck “updated” the meme that saw the Grim Reaper calling on the motorcycle company.

“Harley-Davidson seems to have forgotten who their core customers are,” he said in a nearly ten-minute video that called out policies, partnerships, and events that ran the gamut of alphabet causes like DEI, CRT, and LGBTQ+. “I don’t think the values at corporate reflect the values of nearly any Harley-Davidson bikers.”

“Do Harley riders want the money they spend at Harley to be used later by corporate to push an ideology that’s diametrically opposed to their own values?” asked Starbuck who also posed the question, “So do y’all think @harleydavidson is going to make their dealers suffer the fallout from their choice to go woke at corporate or do you think they’re going to try to turnaround on this before all the biker clubs organize boycotts?”

Among the points highlighted by the filmmaker, the motorcycle company was said to be a founding member of the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce — which opposes banning genital mutilation of children — in addition to their partnerships with United Way and the Human Rights Campaign.

Focusing on documented policies from Harley-Davidson, Starbuck contended that they: were supporting allowing men in girls’ sports, locker rooms, and restrooms; had funded an all-ages “Pride” event with an area for story time with drag queens; and required 1,800 employees to do virtual training on becoming LGBTQ+ allies.

Further, the conservative called out the climate change activist CEO of Harley-Davidson, Jochen Zeitz, who had previously expressed his goals of “total transformation of the company” by 2030, and employee recognition of “transgender day of visibility.

As has been covered, when similar exposure featured John Deere and Tractor Supply, both companies folded their support for the ideological agendas that may have otherwise led them to experience what it means to be “Budlighted” firsthand.

“When we use our voices and wallets to vote our values, we can change the world and restore great American companies to a culture of sanity,” said Starbuck.

Meanwhile, billionaire Elon Musk reacted with surprise to the exposé and posited “Harley Davidson?” earning the response, “They literally sent some white male employees to a white male only training on diversity.”

The filmmaker also clarified, as the only response from the company thus far has been to “hide customer replies” on their posts, “My goal with this reporting is never destruction. My goal is to inform consumers about the values major companies are adopting so they can make choices about what they’re willing to support. That’s not cancel culture, it’s capitalism.”

Still, the record showed, he was actively doing the meme as backlash ensued.

Kevin Haggerty
Latest posts by Kevin Haggerty (see all)

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.

Latest Articles