Kia and CarMax pull LA Clipper sponsorships in wake of alleged Sterling comments
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/marketing-advertising/" rel="tag">Marketing/Advertising</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/kia/" rel="tag">Kia</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/celebrities/" rel="tag">Celebrities</a></p><a href="/2014/04/28/kia-carmax-pull-clipper-sponsorships-sterling-comments/#continued"><img alt="BKN-CLIPPERS-OWNER-DONALD STERLING" data-caption="Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling attends the NBA playoff game between the Clippers and the Golden State Warriors, April 21, 2014 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said April 26 that the NBA is investigating Sterling for alleged racist comments. AFP PHOTO / ROBYN BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)" data-credit="AFP/Getty Images" data-mep="236796" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/GLOB/crop/3000x1960+0+0/resize/628x410!/format/jpg/quality/85/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/midas/5614b047b21a208113356a2a8 5bae7c4/200076869/486996329.jpg" /></a><br />
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There's fallout across the automotive advertising world today as companies react to alarming, racially insensitive statements alleged to have been made Donald Sterling, owner of the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers franchise. Last Friday, entertainment website <a href="http://www.tmz.com/2014/04/26/donald-sterling-clippers-owner-black-people-racist-audio-magic-johnson/">TMZ published excerpts from an audio recording</a>, allegedly between Sterling and his girlfriend V. Stiviano, in which the Clippers owner said, among other things, that he didn't want her to bring black people to his games, including LA Lakers legend Magic Johnson. Sterling has yet to respond publicly to the allegations.<br />
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The story quickly gained steam over the weekend, and this Monday it has seen <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/kia/">Kia Motors</a>, auto sales website <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/tag/carmax/">CarMax</a> and insurance giant State Farm all pull sponsorship activities with the Clippers.<br />
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In a statement Kia said the alleged statements by Sterling were, "offensive and reprehensible," calling them "inconsistent with our views and values." Kia says it is "suspending" its advertising and sponsorship activities with the team, though has yet to clarify if that suspension includes commercials featuring NBA star and Clippers power forward Blake Griffin.<br />
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CarMax has actually ended its tie-up with the team, one that has lasted some nine years, saying "CarMax finds the statements attributed to the Clippers' owner completely unacceptable. These views directly conflict with CarMax's culture of respect for all individuals."<br />
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Find the press releases from Kia and CarMax in their full forms, <a href="/2014/04/28/kia-carmax-pull-clipper-sponsorships-sterling-comments/#continued">below</a>.<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2014/04/28/kia-carmax-pull-clipper-sponsorships-sterling-comments/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Kia and CarMax pull LA Clipper sponsorships in wake of alleged Sterling comments</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2014/04/28/kia-carmax-pull-clipper-sponsorships-sterling-comments/">Kia and CarMax pull LA Clipper sponsorships in wake of alleged Sterling comments</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Mon, 28 Apr 2014 15:31:00 EST. Please see our <a href="/rss-term-of-use/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2014/04/28/kia-carmax-pull-clipper-sponsorships-sterling-comments/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20877067/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2014/04/28/kia-carmax-pull-clipper-sponsorships-sterling-comments/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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