NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace lands Beats by Dre endorsement after Trump blasts him over 'noose' controversy
NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace has landed an endorsement deal with Beats by Dre, the consumer audio-products line created by rapper and producer Dr. Dre. The deal was announced shortly after President Donald J. Trump ripped into Wallace for lying about being the victim of a hate crime involving a "noose" found in his garage stall.
“We weren’t going to announce this until later this week, but hate cannot win the day,” the Apple-owned manufacturer said in a tweet. “No one should ever be asked to apologize for standing up for what’s right — we are proud to welcome @bubbawallace to the Beats by Dr. Dre family.”
The FBI concluded after a thorough investigation that the "noose" in the garage was, in fact, a pull rope for the door that had been there since last year, and that Wallace was not the victim of a hate crime. "After a thorough review of the facts and evidence surrounding this event, we have concluded that no federal crime was committed," FBI Special Agent Johnnie Sharp Jr and US attorney Jay E Town said in a statement. 15 FBI agents were involved in the investigation and claimed that the "noose" had been there since at least October 2019, when the stall was assigned to another team.
NASCAR later issued a statement regarding the FBI's decision saying, "We appreciate the FBI's quick and thorough investigation and are thankful to learn that this was not an intentional, racist act against Bubba. We remain steadfast in our commitment to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all who love racing."
As previously noted, the endorsement deal came after Trump attacked Wallace over the “noose” controversy. “Has @BubbaWallace apologized to all of those great NASCAR drivers & officials who came to his aid, stood by his side, & were willing to sacrifice everything for him, only to find out that the whole thing was just another HOAX? That & Flag decision has caused the lowest ratings EVER!” he tweeted.
Twitter was inundated with comments criticizing Wallace after Beats by Dre made the announcement. "No amount of money will buy respect. Hoax," one wrote.
"'Hate cannot win the day'? Who hates this guy? Like most Americans, I didn't even know who he was until he made up a myth about being persecuted by a garage door pull cord. Still don't hate him despite all the work he's contributed to the ongoing effort to pull America apart," a second added.
"Bubba Wallace lied and NASCAR died," a third chimed in.
"Who says hate crime hoaxes don't pay?" another quipped.
That said, Bubba Wallace’s endorsement deal came the same day former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick signed a first-look deal with Disney. The partnership deal, between Kaepernick's production firm Ra Vision Media and Disney, was announced on Monday and will reportedly focus on telling "scripted and unscripted stories that explore race, social injustice and the quest for equity," according to ESPN. Furthermore, it will also reportedly provide minority directors and producers a "platform" to showcase their work.
"I am excited to announce this historic partnership with Disney across all of its platforms to elevate Black and Brown directors, creators, storytellers and producers, and to inspire the youth with compelling and authentic perspectives," Kaepernick said in a statement. "I look forward to sharing the docuseries on my life story, in addition to many other culturally impactful projects we are developing."