BMW thinks again about Sonny Bill deal
Rugby star’s links with Muslim clerics prompts review
Luxury car company BMW is reviewing its ambassador deal with Sonny Bill Williams. The move comes after complaints about the dual-code international and two-time World Cup winning All Black’s associations with controversial Muslim clerics Mufti Ismail Menk and Ebrahim Bham.
Menk is known for his extreme anti-homosexual views, and was once recorded as saying: “With all due respect to the animals, [homosexuals] are worse than those animals.”
Williams has been photographed with him several times and has tweeted about the pair, including retweeting one of Menk’s quotes after his grandmother died last May.
Articles have appeared in a variety of publications about Williams’ links with Muslim extremists and several people have complained about the ties on BMW’s Facebook page.
BMW New Zealand spokesman Paul Sherley told the Herald Williams’ contract remained unchanged but the company was reviewing his role.
“We take on board all customer complaints and consider them very seriously,” Sherley said.
“We’re looking at the best way we can utilise him in his capacity, as we do with each of our ambassadors.”
One of Williams’ tweets which has drawn criticism was of him doing a one-fingered salute — a Muslim gesture which has been adopted by some Isis soldiers.
It was announced in October that Williams would be a brand ambassador for BMW in New Zealand. As part of the partnership he received his own BMW X5 vehicle worth $161,000.
BMW group New Zealand manager Florian Renndorfer said at the time the company was “very delighted” to have Williams as an ambassador.
The appointment came after the brand dropped Williams in 2007 following a string of off-field controversies. Williams could not be reached for comment.
NZ Muslim Association president Ikhlaq Kashkari said he supported Williams but didn’t support discrimination. “I don’t know the [Menk and Bham] so can’t comment on them, but Williams is a great sportsman for New Zealand and the Muslim community are right behind him.”
We take on board all customer complaints and consider them very seriously. Paul Sherley BMW New Zealand