'We Are Publicly Opposing The Travel Ban': Under Armour CEO

Responding to criticism about his description of President Donald Trump as an "asset" to the country and its business community, Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank ran a full-page ad in Wednesday's Baltimore Sun in which he opposed the travel ban that Trump initiated.

Athletes and patrons slammed Plank last week after he said on CNBC: "To have such a pro-business president is something that is a real asset for the country."

Plank walked back his comments in Wednesday's letter published in the Sun, stating he used "words that did not accurately reflect my intent."

Read the full letter at the end of the article.

Among the critics of Plank last week were NBA star Stephen Curry and American Ballet Company Principal Dancer Misty Copeland, both under contract with Under Armour.

Copeland said it was important to her that Under Armour and Plank "take public action to clearly communicate and reflect our common values" for her to continue the partnership.

The letter released on Wednesday did just that. "We are publicly opposing the travel ban," Plank said, referencing Trump's executive order banning travel to the U.S. by residents of Syria, Libya, Sudan, Somalia, Yemen, Iraq and Iran.

"We are taking other public positions on legislation around the country in support of the interests of our teammates whenever policy conflicts with human rights," Plan said in his letter. "Our team, like our country, is diverse by race, religion, nationality, gender, age, sexual orientation and point of view. In our city and at Under Armour, our diversity is our strength."

Related:

• Under Armour Under Fire After CEO Kevin Plank Makes Pro-Trump Statement
• Trump Travel Ban Faces Lawsuit From ACLU, Maryland Refugee Group
• Protest at BWI Over Trump's Executive Order on Immigrants, Refugees

Image of Tide Point, where Under Armour is headquartered in Baltimore, by Sean Naber via Flickr, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic.