Lululemon disavows founder Chip Wilson’s comments on diversity, inclusion

Lululemon is distancing itself from recent controversial comments by founder Chip Wilson, who criticized the sports apparel company's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

“Chip Wilson does not represent Lululemon and his comments do not reflect our views or beliefs,” a company spokesperson said in a statement. “Since Chip resigned from the board in 2015, he has not been involved with the company and we are a very different company today.”

The company is “committed to building and promoting an inclusive, diverse and welcoming environment throughout our organization and community,” the spokesperson added.

Wilson, who has previously come under fire for comments deemed anti-Asian, sexist and fatphobic, lamented in an article: Recent interview with Forbes Lululemon is trying to be “everything for everyone.”

“I think through this whole diversity and inclusion thing, they're trying to be like a gap for everyone,” Wilson said. “And I think the definition of a brand is that you're not everything to everyone.”

“Lululemon has a real opportunity to become a brand, but to become a brand they need to make it clear that they don't want certain customers coming into their stores,” he added.

Mr Wilson also suggested that the people in the company's ads looked “unhealthy”, “sickly” and “uninspiring”.

The Lululemon founder resigned as chairman of the company's board in 2013 after a backlash over his handling of criticism that some of the company's pants were too see-through and prone to pilling. Wilson suggested that certain women's body types are not suited for Lululemon apparel.

“Frankly, some women's bodies don't really work that well,” he said in an interview with Bloomberg at the time. “What really matters is how much pressure you rub your thighs, how much pressure you apply over a period of time, and how much pressure you use.”