Sponsors desert NBA’s Clippers

Sponsors have started stepping away from NBA basketball team the Los Angeles Clippers after racist comments attributed to the franchise’s owner, Donald Sterling, were reported.

According to the Associated Press, Mercedes-Benz USA’s car dealerships are ending their sponsorship of the Clippers while fellow dealership chain CarMax, airline Virgin America, and the Chumash Casino Resort are also curtailing their deals. Four other sponsors – Kia Motors America, energy drink maker Red Bull, flooring retailer Lumber Liquidators and Yokohama Tire – have suspended their commercial deals with the Clippers. Insurance company State Farm said that it would be “taking a pause” in its relationship with the franchise.

Sterling has been criticised for comments he is alleged to have made in a recorded conversation with a woman. Portions of that conversation were published over the weekend, and the NBA has scheduled a press conference later today regarding its investigation into the matter.

“CarMax finds the statements attributed to the Clippers' owner completely unacceptable,” CarMax said. “While we have been a proud Clippers sponsor for nine years and support the team, fans and community, these statements necessitate that CarMax end its sponsorship.”

State Farm also described the remarks as offensive and added that it would monitor the situation as the facts are revealed.