"You got Budlighted"— Internet reacts as Harley Davidson issues statement addressing backlash over 'woke' DEI policies  

On Monday, August 19, 2024, Harley Davidson announced that they were changing their diversity and inclusion policies. This comes after the company faced pressure from conservative activists to take down such programmes. Internet users have since taken to the internet to claim that the Milwaukee-based organization had gone “woke.”

The organization was pushed to release a statement, after conservative activist and filmmaker Robby Starbuck claimed in an X video that the company had gone “totally woke.” He blasted the company for forcing employees to attend DEI trainings and LGBT+ events. He also criticized them for supporting the Ride with Pride event, which was meant for LGBT+ motorcycle riders.

Harley Davidson then took to X to announce that their DEI policies have not been used since April 2024. They said online:

“It is critical to our business that we hire and retain the best talent and that all employees feel welcome. That said, we have not operated a DEI function since April 2024, and we do not have a DEI function today. We do not have hiring quotas and we no longer have supplier diversity spend goals.”

The company also announced that they were not participating in the Human Rights Campaign and that they were scrapping “socially motivated content” from their employee training materials.

Several internet users were displeased with Harley Davidson's old DEI trainings. Despite the organization confirming on Monday that they were not holding the same anymore, internet users continued to criticize the company. One internet user said:

The platform user was referring to beer brand Bud Light garnering immense flak from conservatives last year after making transgender activist and actress Dylan Mulvaney their brand ambassador.

Meanwhile, other reactions to Harley Davidson’s latest announcement read:

“You literally sh*t on the people who got you there. GFY,” an X user said.

“Go woke… go broke,” another platform user stated.

“Until your CEO goes Harley is dead….. Don’t buy Harley until the CEO is gone….,” another internet user said.

Harley Davidson also said in their statement that they were “saddened” by the social media outrage they faced overall. The organization claimed that critics attempted to “divide” their community. Meanwhile, other reactions read:

“Budlight called said hello,” an X user said.

“Not good enough. Replace the CEO and the board. Until then, buy Indian,” a platform user said.

“It’s as if you have NO CLUE who your customers are. Replace your Marxist CEO,” a netizen stated.

Starbuck had also accused the motorcycle brand’s mission of wanting a diverse cohort of being “a fancy corporate speak way for saying less white people.” Meanwhile, other reactions read:

“The CEO remains. You aren’t serious so we don’t care what you have to say," a netizen commented.

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Robby Starbuck celebrates Harley Davidson’s latest announcement

In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital on August 20, Robby Starbuck stated that corporations cannot ignore conservatives anymore. Speaking about the brand’s latest statement, he said:

“They made this statement because we’re obviously having an impact on their customer base.”

Starbuck also noted that despite the changes being made in the company’s DEI policies, he still wants the CEO to be replaced. Speaking about Jochen Zeitz, Starbuck said:

“He’s a true believer, and we’ll keep constant tabs on their internal business. In his elite social circles, this move will not be popular. His world does not include bikers. This statement sounds like a board decision and not his decision. I’d be surprised if he was OK with this decision.”

Apart from criticizing the aforementioned company, Starbuck also fired at Tractor Supply and Deere, who announced later on, that they were removing their diversity and inclusion events and policies.