Subway customers are boycotting the company because Megan Rapinoe appeared in their adverts

Subway customers in the United States are reportedly boycotting the fast-food sandwich outlet because they featured “unAmerican” football hero Megan Rapinoe in an advert.

According to Business Insider, several branches of Subway across the US have received angry letters and messages on social media after Rapinoe appeared in a series of adverts for the company.

36-year-old Rapinoe, who has won two World Cups for the United States as well as a gold and bronze medal at the Olympics, features alongside other sporting greats such as Serena Williams, Tom Brady and Steph Curry in one ad but her presence has really upset a few folks.

One branch of Subway reportedly found a note on its front door reading: “Boycott Subway until Subway fires the anti-American.” According to Insider, some branch managers have also complained about the backlash with one person saying: “By knowingly hiring a flashpoint personality to represent the brand with our money, the franchisor has failed.”

A quick scan through Twitter also reveals that this sentiment is being whipped up by several notable conservative commentators in the United States.

Much of the resentment towards Rapinoe comes from her outspoken political views. She made headlines during the 2019 Women’s World Cup when she said that she and the team “wouldn’t go to the White House” should they win the competition in protest of the Trump administration.

Rapinoe has also shown support for the Black Lives Matter movement by taking the knee during the national anthem. The Hill also reports that she was subject to false accusations that she had “stomped on the American flag”. This culminated in conservatives including Donald Trump piling on to Rapinoe and mocking her and the US Women’s National Team for using their semi-final match against Canada at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Despite all this, Subway’s senior director of brand communications Brad Simon told USA Today: “Megan is one of several athletes and celebrities Subway partners with, but they are not the official company spokesperson.”

A veteran franchisee of Subway also told Insider: “If there is negative pressure, it is not hurting much. I think we need a broad spectrum of spokespeople that appeal to different groups.”