Robby Starbuck is renewing his boycott call against Harley-Davidson, accusing the iconic motorcycle maker of elevating executives who supported educational materials discussing white privilege, gender identity and intersectionality — and arguing that riders who buy Harleys are indirectly funding a “radical ideology.”
The conservative influencer, who is known for forcing some of America’s biggest companies to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, said Harley-Davidson has failed to change course despite previously signaling it would abandon controversial DEI efforts.
“I regret to inform you unfortunately today I am going to have to expose them again,” Starbuck said in a Wednesday social media post
In 2024, Harley-Davidson promised to drop DEI initiatives in the face of pressure from activists including Starbuck.
His latest broadside centers on the company’s CEO Artie Starrs and Chief Brand Officer Marcus Fischer, whom Starbuck accused of bringing DEI efforts, LGBTQ-related programs, transgender-inclusion efforts and race-conscious workplace policies into organizations they previously led.
Starbuck said Harley-Davidson riders should “leave and go to another brand,” arguing that the company’s leadership has doubled down on progressive corporate culture instead of restoring what he called the motorcycle brand’s “masculine” and “pro-American” identity.
Starrs took over Harley-Davidson after serving as CEO of Topgolf and president of Pizza Hut.
Starbuck pointed to LGBTQ initiatives at Topgolf during Starrs’ tenure, including a company Pride group and support for an LGBTQ golf tournament that raised money for San Francisco Pride.
He also singled out Pizza Hut’s partnership with First Book on anti-racism educational materials while Starrs was leading the pizza chain.
Starbuck claimed the materials promoted white privilege, microaggressions, intersectionality, gender identity and equity — which he described as “Communism.”
“Anybody who would put this vile garbage in front of teachers and students so that kids can be indoctrinated should not be running a dog-catching program, let alone one of the biggest companies on Earth,” Starbuck said.
Starbuck then directed his ire at Fischer, whom he described as one of Starrs’ first major hires.
Fischer previously served as CEO of ad agency Carmichael Lynch, which the influencer accused of being “on the forefront of pushing DEI and advertising.”
Starbuck pointed to Fischer’s use of pronouns online, his past posts about DEI conferences and transgender representation in vehicle advertising, and his former agency’s LGBTQ-related workplace initiatives.
He also claimed Fischer’s former company had a program “specifically for people who are not white,” which Starbuck called “racism.”
Starbuck further criticized the agency for sending a representative to the Cannes Film Festival for a presentation on “the stereotypes of masculinity” and for holding an office drag show that raised $12,000 for LGBTQ groups.
“I wish I was joking,” he said. “I wish that this guy was not actually the chief brand officer of Harley-Davidson.”
Starbuck argued that Harley-Davidson’s corporate leadership “must think Harley riders are dumb” and will keep buying motorcycles regardless of the company’s direction.
He said riders should abandon the brand and send a message to corporate America with their wallets.
“Every time he got on his Harley, he felt like he was indirectly supporting a radical ideology that he disagreed with,” Starbuck said, referring to UFC fighter Sean Strickland’s decision to stop riding Harley-Davidson.
Starbuck framed the fight as a test of whether Harley-Davidson’s brand power comes from the company or from the riders who made it famous.
“I think what makes Harley special and what has made Harley a seminal American brand is the riders,” he said.
“The truth is you are what made Harley strong and you will make whatever company you switch to strong as well,” Starbuck added.
The Post has sought comment from Harley-Davidson and Carmichael Lynch.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
