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Harley-Davidson’s photo The latest executive hire risks alienating Americans who are fed up with the alleged wake-up call to corporate images like a motorcycle manufacturer, a conservative activist warns.
Robby Starbuck, who has waged a public campaign against him business diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies and vigilance, criticized Harley-Davidson for his position at X for appointing Artie Starrs as CEO last year because of his sponsorship of groups that contributed to San Francisco Pride and provided anti-racism training to teachers while at the company’s previous headquarters.
Starbuck led a consumer boycott against Harley-Davidson in 2024, which prompted the company to announce a rollback of DEI plans, but warned that the hiring suggested the company was not committed to those changes in the long term.
“Harley-Davidson’s recent hiring shows to me that they haven’t learned anything from the backlash they’ve already faced by waking up,” Starbuck told FOX Business.
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Harley-Davidson is facing criticism for its recent management hires. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
“You can’t tell working-class American riders that you respect them while you’re filling the leadership with people who are tied to revolutionary policies, DEI activism and cultural radicalism. It doesn’t align with Harley’s customer base and values,” Starbuck said.
“At this point, it’s enough. They don’t deserve another chance. It’s time for the riders to go somewhere else. Only with a real power struggle can Harley be saved,” he added.
It’s Starbucks criticism of communications of Harley-Davidson included the company’s CEO, Marcus Fischer, who previously led an advertising agency and championed efforts to improve transgender representation.
| A ticker | Security | Finally | Change | change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The HOG | HARLEY-DAVIDSON INC. | 24.35 | +0.10 |
+0.41% |
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“I’m disclosing these things because consumers deserve to know who’s using the brands they support and what the values are behind the scenes of those companies,” Starbuck said. “This is not about revenge. It’s about accountability. Companies have to be held accountable political neutralitybased on profit and focus on making good products, not chasing the approval of far-left activists.”
“My goal is to contribute Buyers have forgotten voice and make it clear that if brands continue to choose woke ideas over their customers, those customers can and should leave. There are consequences for waking behavior and awakened management,” he added.
Conservative activist Robby Starbuck said Harley-Davidson’s hiring showed it had not learned from the 2024 anti-DEI backlash. (Bess Adler/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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FOX Business has reached out to Harley-Davidson for comment.
Harley-Davidson issued a statement USA Today in a report about criticism of Starbucks defending its CEO.
“Since taking on this position eight months ago, CEO Artie Starrs has spent time across the country listening directly to our riders, dealers, employees and unions,” Harley-Davidson said in a statement.
“As our vendors and employees can attest, our only agenda is to get back to basics: building good motorcycleswe strengthen our network of 500+ US dealers, and support employees who are proud of the product they put on the road. We have made significant improvements and changes, and that work continues,” the company added.
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