Niketown on Newbury Street has yanked a storefront window display that irked Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino because of its apparent drug references.“It’s good news that Nike has removed the display,” said Dot Joyce, a spokeswoman for Menino. “It’s inappropriate and we will continue to make sure that all displays in our city do not promote the use of drugs. It is unacceptable and we’re happy they agree.”Although Joyce said Nike never notified the city of it change in plans, the store removed the offending T-shirts, which brazenly carried the words “Get High” and “Dope.”Exeter Street resident Dan Gates said Niketown now features large photos of surfer Julian Wilson and skateboarder Paul Rodriguez around eight T-shirts sporting the “Just do it” slogan.A Nike spokesman could not be immediately reached for comment today.On Tuesday, Nike air max spokesman Derek Kent confirmed the company had received a letter from Menino airing his concerns about the messages on the shirts.The display stayed up for several more days, and Nike issued a statement saying the company doesn’t condone the use of banned or illegal substances and the T-shirts are part of an action sports campaign.
Menino told the Herald earlier this week: “What we don’t need is a major corporation like Nike, which tries to appeal to the younger generation, out there giving credence to the drug issue.”