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BD / Joe Kinder / ???

grog m · · Saltlakecity · Joined Aug 2012 · Points: 70

I follow Sasha on FB and the story is posted in depth there. Basically, he trolled her with fat jokes. She trolled him back by sharing it on social media and he got dropped from BD. Sasha out-trolled him. At first I was a bit horrified of the precedent this is setting. But the way she did it was check mate style. Hats off.

David K · · The Road, Sometimes Chattan… · Joined Jan 2017 · Points: 424

It seems like he should have been a bit... kinder.

Tradiban · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2004 · Points: 11,610
grog m aka Greg McKee wrote: I follow Sasha on FB and the story is posted in depth there. Basically, he trolled her with fat jokes. She trolled him back by sharing it on social media and he got dropped from BD. Sasha out-trolled him. At first I was a bit horrified of the precedent this is setting. But the way she did it was check mate style. Hats off.

Ouch, fatjokes are a no go kboy. I'm proud to say I don't "follow" any climbers on "social media". We should all burn this mother fucker to the ground.

Mark E Dixon · · Possunt, nec posse videntur · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 984
Ted Pinson · · Chicago, IL · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 252
Tradiban wrote: Hmmm.... couldn't find what got him fired but that guy always gave me the impression that he's a dumb bro. Regardless of what he said/did was actually out of line doesn't matter, what matters is that you don't do anything that might piss off your sponsor.

I don't think he's actually a bully though, just a dumbass.  The "bully" term is tossed around a bit too liberally nowadays. Although, he's so dumb he might have crossed the line without knowing it...wait am I bullying Joey now?!?!?

He took a picture of Sasha & Edu Marin and photoshopped a picture of an obese woman over her.  Class act.

MisterE Wolfe · · Nevada City, CA · Joined Dec 2007 · Points: 8,042

To keep your sponsors, pretty much all you have to do is keep climbing really good & not be an asshole.

Apparently, that is too tall of an order for some.

Dow Williams · · St. George, Utah; Canmore, AB · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 240

I have been a staunch libertarian most of my life.  Live and let live philosophy.  To me, political correctness in general is on steroids.  However, those who have expressed concern that somehow BD's actions might set precedent, that has no historical basis.  This would not be allowed at most major companies for the past 20 years.  Posting "shit" anonymously is a cowardly act, always has been, always will be.  There is no way to spin it to change that fact, although a few have tried.   In many work places it never has been tolerated.  Social media is her work place outlet/publicity/promotion.   BD definitely did the right thing and La Sportiva should follow suit regardless of what she has asked them to do.  If I owned private stock in the company, no offence, regardless of her wishes, I would request they fire him as well.  As has been mentioned, way too many stand up folks waiting to fill that void.  And at 40 yrs of age, sorry to break it to you, but you are who you are.  Not a lot of room for vast improvement.

Andrew Rice · · Los Angeles, CA · Joined Jan 2016 · Points: 11
grog m aka Greg McKee wrote: I follow Sasha on FB and the story is posted in depth there. Basically, he trolled her with fat jokes. She trolled him back by sharing it on social media and he got dropped from BD. Sasha out-trolled him. At first I was a bit horrified of the precedent this is setting. But the way she did it was check mate style. Hats off.

It's really worth looking at Sasha's FB feed. She's been incredibly classy through this. IMO any "brand ambassador" who pulls the shit Kinder did should expect to be fired and shouldn't act hurt or surprised when it happens.

https://www.facebook.com/sashadigiulian/

Go Back to Super Topo · · Lex · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 285

BD literally has a video of Kinder making fun of Sasha on their youtube page, endorsed by them, called "Training is so Hawt" or something like that. Seems a little excessive to ruin someones career after they've supported their (similar) actions. It also seems like BD made the decision to drop him due to the crazy amount of people threatening to never buy their product again, especially after their initial comments on Sasha's instagram insinuated that they were not going to take any action. Just my observations as an injured climber who can't climb and has nothing better to do than follow instdrama.

Long Ranger · · Boulder, CO · Joined Jan 2014 · Points: 669

In my opinion, the, "Training is so Hawt" is not fat shaming anyone -  or bullying, it's poking fun at posting training vids on Instagram, but then showing Joe... posting a training video on Instagram. It's self-effacing. I guess that opinion hinges on whether BD/Kinder got permission to use Sasha's own instagram videos she posted in the video itself. If not, kind of a grey area. Maybe. Yes, there's women in yoga pants in the videos, but those women were the ones to put the videos up in the first place. Women can, and do, where yoga pants while training at climbing gyms. Kinder is shown with an enormous crotch bulge - referencing how gym clothing is revealing. BD video: how to be funny. Kinder shadow instagram video: how to not be funny.

Form your own opinions:

jdejace · · New England · Joined Sep 2013 · Points: 5
Ted Pinson wrote:

He took a picture of Sasha & Edu Marin and photoshopped a picture of an obese woman over her.  Class act.

I don't think there was any photoshop involved, the photo below looks exactly the same as the one on SD's Instagram. The woman in question actually seems to promote some good ideals about body image. Shame to pull her into this. Shame Sasha was offended at being compared to a seemingly positive person. There's a lot you can do to overcome genetics but some people will never be 90lb climbers. We don't need to look down on them, their life is hard enough.

http://www.sarahpluslife.com/searching-for-myself/lbmypics2/

Kinder is obviously a dummy and I'm not defending what he did. Especially since SD has ​hinted​​​ that she may have had an eating disorder. Whether he should lose his livelihood over it seems to be a source of controversy, but SD isn't dumb and she knew she was getting him fired when she wrote the first post. 100% predictable. To go back and say I didn't want him to lose sponsorships once she realized some people disagreed with her is disingenuous. Can't have it both ways.

It was also interesting that one of the commenters accused SD of making fun of an overweight lady at the crag. At least she's smart enough not to leave tracks.
Kyle Elliott · · Granite falls · Joined Jul 2015 · Points: 1,773
David Kerkeslager wrote: It seems like he should have been a bit... kinder.

Tradiban · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2004 · Points: 11,610

I think the 600-pound gorilla in the room is how do you guys have this much time to read write and post about this crap online?

Andrew Rice · · Los Angeles, CA · Joined Jan 2016 · Points: 11
jdejace wrote:

I don't think there was any photoshop involved, the photo below looks exactly the same as the one on SD's Instagram. The woman in question actually seems to promote some good ideals about body image. Shame to pull her into this. Shame Sasha was offended at being compared to a seemingly positive person. There's a lot you can do to overcome genetics but some people will never be 90lb climbers. We don't need to look down on them, their life is hard enough.

http://www.sarahpluslife.com/searching-for-myself/lbmypics2/

Kinder is obviously a dummy and I'm not defending what he did. Especially since SD has hinted that she may have had an eating disorder. Whether he should lose his livelihood over it seems to be a source of controversy, but SD isn't dumb and she knew she was getting him fired when she wrote the first post. 100% predictable. To go back and say I didn't want him to lose sponsorships once she realized some people disagreed with her is disingenuous. Can't have it both ways.

It was also interesting that one of the commenters accused SD of making fun of an overweight lady at the crag. At least she's smart enough not to leave tracks.

Sasha actually said positive things about the other woman, too. I think the egregious behavior was using sock-puppet accounts to essentially stalk someone who'd asked him to stop, previously, and fat shaming a fellow athlete who, as you noted above, has clearly referenced her own struggles with disordered eating behavior. Not cool on any front. 


SD has actually asked BD to NOT fire JK, but it's really not up to her in the end. 
Jack main · · maine · Joined Dec 2017 · Points: 5

Has la sportiva said anything about this yet?

Ted Pinson · · Chicago, IL · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 252
jdejace wrote:

I don't think there was any photoshop involved, the photo below looks exactly the same as the one on SD's Instagram. The woman in question actually seems to promote some good ideals about body image. Shame to pull her into this. Shame Sasha was offended at being compared to a seemingly positive person. There's a lot you can do to overcome genetics but some people will never be 90lb climbers. We don't need to look down on them, their life is hard enough.

http://www.sarahpluslife.com/searching-for-myself/lbmypics2/

Kinder is obviously a dummy and I'm not defending what he did. Especially since SD has hinted that she may have had an eating disorder. Whether he should lose his livelihood over it seems to be a source of controversy, but SD isn't dumb and she knew she was getting him fired when she wrote the first post. 100% predictable. To go back and say I didn't want him to lose sponsorships once she realized some people disagreed with her is disingenuous. Can't have it both ways.

It was also interesting that one of the commenters accused SD of making fun of an overweight lady at the crag. At least she's smart enough not to leave tracks.

Ok, thanks for the correction - I haven’t been following this closely, just saw Sasha’s post and tried to piece it together.  Either way, I gather that he used the picture to insult SD and fat shame her, while also simultaneously insulting the actual woman whose picture he used.

M Mobley · · Bar Harbor, ME · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 911
Tradiban wrote: I think the 600-pound gorilla in the room is how do you guys have this much time to read write and post about this crap online?

Following!

I'm a fatty too!
Tradiban · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2004 · Points: 11,610

Bump for more drama!

Dan Cooksey · · Pink Ford Thunderbird · Joined Jan 2014 · Points: 365

A few years ago Saha Digiulian snubbed my dog at the GoPro games, when all the little guy wanted was a to be  pet.     

Colonel Mustard · · Sacramento, CA · Joined Sep 2005 · Points: 1,252

I find myself somehow able to soldier on. Undiminished in determination, if not currently bored shitless.

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