Colin Kaepernick’s skin appears darkened in ‘racist’ Republican fundraiser ad

Colin Kaepernick’s skin appeared darkened in a recent fundraiser ad released by the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) that also featured President Donald Trump standing in front of the Betsy Ross flag.

The email consisted of a photo of President Donald Trump next to the former NFL star with the words: ‘WHO DO YOU STAND WITH? DONALD TRUMP AND THE BETSY ROSS FLAG OR ANTI-AMERICAN FLAG COLIN KAEPERNICK.’

While Trump looks like his usual self, Kaepernick looks a few shades darker than the original image that was taken in November 2016 when the former quarterback took a knee during the national anthem alongside 49ers teammate Eli Harold.

The image is believed to have been doctored but the NRCC has denied such claims. 

Colin Kaepernick’s skin appeared to have been darkened in a recent fundraiser ad released by the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC)

Original image of Kaepernick taking a knee during a November 2016 game
This appears to be an altered image of Kaepernick's 2016 original

While Trump looks like his usual self, Kaepernick looks a few shades darker (right) than the original image (left) that was taken in November 2016 when the former quarterback took a knee during the national anthem alongside 49ers teammate Eli Harold

Trump's image from the email was altered to show the Betsy Ross flag hanging in the background. The original Trump image shows the American flag in the background ahead of his appearance in St Louis, Missouri, on November 29, 2017 (original pictured)

Trump’s image from the email was altered to show the Betsy Ross flag hanging in the background. The original Trump image shows the American flag in the background ahead of his appearance in St Louis, Missouri, on November 29, 2017 (original pictured)

NRCC communications director Chris Pack said in an email to Yahoo News: ‘The photo was not darkened.’

The NRCC did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment.

Trump’s image from the email was altered to show the Betsy Ross flag hanging in the background. 

The original Trump image shows the American flag in the background ahead of his appearance in St Louis, Missouri, on November 29, 2017. 

Shortly after the email was sent, several critics slammed the NRCC for their ‘racist’ email.

‘Wow. The racist scumbags at the @NRCC made Colin Kaepernick’s skin darker in a fundraising email,’ one Twitter user wrote. 

Political action committee, Vote Vets, also shared their thoughts on the photo. 

‘If the @NRCC intentionally darkened @Kaepernick7’s skin, then forget apologies — they ought to be forced to explain to America why they believe darker skin makes someone look worse, in their eyes.

‘Any answer they could give would be un-American,’ the tweet read. 

Congressman Ted Lieu weighed in on the controversy and called for those responsible for the email to be fired. 

‘Dear @GOPLeader Kevin McCarthy: I served with you in the California legislature and now in Congress. I do not believe you are a racist. If the below is true, then I hope you will fire those who were responsible,’ he wrote. 

The email was sent on Wednesday and took a direct jab at the NFL quarterback-turned activist after he spoke up about Nike’s Betsy-Ross emblazoned sneakers. 

Controversy surrounding the Betsy Ross flag started a few days before the Fourth of July holiday when Nike announced their release of their new shoes. 

Nike recalled the sneaker after Kaepernick asked the company not to sell a shoe with a symbol that he and others considered offensive because of its connection to the era of slavery.

The email was sent on Wednesday and took a direct jab at the NFL quarterback-turned activist after he spoke up about Nike's Betsy-Ross emblazoned sneakers (pictured)

The email was sent on Wednesday and took a direct jab at the NFL quarterback-turned activist after he spoke up about Nike’s Betsy-Ross emblazoned sneakers (pictured) 

Nike recalled the sneaker after Kaepernick asked the company not to sell a shoe with a symbol that he and others considered offensive because of its connection to an era of slavery

Nike recalled the sneaker after Kaepernick asked the company not to sell a shoe with a symbol that he and others considered offensive because of its connection to an era of slavery

The shoemaker revealed last Monday that it had pulled the Air Max 1 USA shoe, which included a Revolutionary War-era US flag with 13 white stars in a circle on the heel. 

The move to remove the sneaker sparked a conservative backlash, including from Arizona’s governor who slammed it as a ‘terrible decision’ before withdrawing a $2million incentive for Nike Inc to build a plant in the state. 

But despite the controversy, Nike stocks have actually seen an increase and are up two per cent since last Tuesday. 

Shares were $86.82 at closing on Friday.  

The rise in stocks added almost $3billion to the company’s market value. 

Nike’s share price experienced a similar surge after the brand made Kaepernick – the controversial free agent quarterback – the face of its ‘Just Do It’ advertising campaign in September last year. 

Stocks reached a then-record high of $86.04 in the weeks after the campaign featuring Kaepernick was released. 

It may explain why the shoemaker deferred to Kaepernick when he raised concerns over the sneaker featuring the early American flag this week.  

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