Lululemon founder Chip Wilson criticized for diversity and inclusion comments

Lululemon Athletica Inc.’s founder is facing backlash online after he criticized the Vancouver-based apparel company’s diversity efforts in a recent interview.

In an article published this week by Forbes, Chip Wilson shared his distaste for Lululemon’s “whole diversity and inclusion thing,” saying the people the company is using in its ads are “unhealthy,” “sickly,” and “not inspirational.”

Wilson added that he feels Lululemon is trying to be like the Gap by wanting to be everything to everybody. He thinks the company should be clear it doesn’t want certain customers visiting the business.

Lululemon declined to comment on Wilson’s remarks.

His comments have attracted criticism online, with many taking to social media to share their disappointment. Others have pointed out his rhetoric isn’t surprising, given previous controversies he has sparked.

Wilson attracted controversy in 2013, when he told Bloomberg some women’s bodies don’t work for the company’s products after Lululemon pulled some of its yoga pants from shelves over concerns they were too sheer.

Wilson, who started Lululemon in 1998, eventually stepped down from the company and relinquished his board seat but remains a shareholder.

Wilson now spends his time on real estate and private equity investments along with pushing for a cure for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, a disorder he has been diagnosed with.