We’re with you Naomi, say corporate biggies
Her decision to prioritise mental health lauded
Corporate companies who have collaborations and brand ambassador deals with Naomi Osaka have solidly backed the Tennis Titan’s decision to back out from the French Open, citing her struggle with mental health issues. A number of sports celebrities have also lauded her for the courageous step.
Sports apparel giant Nike, which had signed a sponsorship deal with Naomi in 2019, said in a statement, “Our thoughts are with Naomi. We support her and recognise her courage in sharing her own mental health experience.”
Other corporate biggies that have thrown their weight behind Naomi are Swiss luxury watchmaker TAG Heuer, Japan’s Nissin Foods and US restaurant chain Sweetgreen, according to Yahoo News, quoting CNN and other news sites.
CNN reported that Mastercard released a statement saying “Naomi Osaka’s decision reminds us all how important it is to prioritise personal health and well-being,” and added that “We support her and admire her courage to address important issues, both on and off the court.”
TAG Heuer said it supports its brand ambassadors “in triumph but also during challenging periods.”
Japanese automaker Nissan said “We support the right of our ambassadors to express themselves and stand by her decision” while All Nippon Airways announced continued support to Osaka “as a sponsor.” “Our partnership with Naomi is rooted in wellness in all its forms. We support her in furthering the conversation around mental health and are proud to have her as part of the Sweetgreen team,” a statement from the restaurant chain said.
Naomi was born in Japan and grew up in USA.
Last week, the Tennis star had shared on Twitter that she had “suffered long bouts of depression” since winning her first Grand Slam title in 2018, and announced that she would not be participating in press conferences after the French Open tournament, also known as Roland Garros. Subsequently, Roland Garros slapped a $15,000 fine on her for violating her contract. The four-time major champion then announced that she was pulling out of the competition.
On Tuesday, Roland Garros, describing Naomi as ‘an exceptional athlete”, tweeted that it wanted to offer her “support and assistance in any way possible as she takes time away from the court” and added that they “look forward to her return as soon as she deems appropriate.”
The belated offer of support has drawn flak from many quarters.
Sports apparel giant Nike, which had signed a sponsorship deal with Naomi in 2019, said in a statement, “Our thoughts are with Naomi. We support her and recognise her courage in sharing her own mental health experience.”