The NFL, according to a new report, is among the “most divisive brands” in the United States—weeks after President Donald Trump spotlighted the debate on what teams should do when players take a knee during the national anthem.
Weeks later, the survey painted a very different picture, the Times reported.
“Trump voters are now much more likely to say that they view the NFL negatively, reflecting a sharp change around Sept. 23,” the paper reported.
According to the survey, the net favorability of the NFL among Hillary Clinton voters is currently +38 percent, but -24 percent among supporters of President Trump. The league is now seventh on the list of most divisive brands, along with Trump Hotels, CNN, NBC News, The New York Times, MSNBC, and Fox News.
The NFL’s core fanbase, men between the ages of 34 to 54, weren’t happy with the anthem protests.
According to the analysis, “More critically for the NFL, the fall off in favorables occurred among important audiences. Among males, NFL favorables fell 23 percent, going from 68 percent to 45 percent. In looking at a more specific audience, males 34-54, NFL favorables fell 31 percent, going from 73 percent to 42 percent. Among this group the NFL has a surprising negative image, as it went from +54 percent in August to -5 percent in September.”