As if things couldn’t get any worse for Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, it apparently has. Carmax and Stae Farm Insurance have officially withdrew their sponsorship with the team for recent remarks made by a voice that appears to have been Sterling in an audio recording.
An audio clip released to TMZ contained a voice sounding like Sterling who was heard scolding V. Stiviano, his girlfriend who is reportedly both of black and Mexican decent, to disassociate herself with black people and not bring her black friends to Clippers games or posting photos of them on her Instagram account.
On Saturday, Reverend Al Sharpton and the National Action Network threatened to rally outside of the NBA’s headquarters in Manhattan on Monday if the situation was not rectified. Upon hearing the news, he was pleased.
“We applaud CarMax’s choice to withdraw sponsorship and State Farm’s announcement that they will pause their relationship with the L.A. Clippers,” said Reverend Sharpton.
“We have been in touch with both companies and feel that as major advertisers they are an important example to all advertisers. They have shown that one should not cosign or cosponsor in making a profit for bigots and not excuse or accept their behavior.”
According to a press release distributed this afternoon, the NBA will make an announcement tomorrow regarding the alleged comments made by Sterling.
