Robby Starbuck Questions Harley-Davidson CEO's Commitment to DEI Policies

<p>Conservative activist Robby Starbuck has raised concerns regarding Harley-Davidson's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, specifically targeting the company's new CEO, Artie Starrs. Starbuck claims that Starrs has a history of supporting DEI programs during his previous roles at Topgolf and Pizza Hut.</p><p>Starrs, who became CEO of Harley-Davidson in October 2025, took over the company after it announced in 2024 that it would scale back several DEI-related initiatives following consumer backlash. Starbuck argues that Starrs' past actions, including promoting DEI initiatives and hiring a chief brand officer with a similar background, raise questions about the company's true intentions regarding DEI policies.</p><p>During his tenure at Topgolf, Starrs maintained employee resource groups and supported public initiatives for LGBT causes. Additionally, Starbuck highlighted a 2020 educational initiative from Pizza Hut that focused on race and equity in classrooms.</p><p>Starbuck also criticized Starrs' hiring of Marcus Fischer as Harley-Davidson's chief brand officer, noting Fischer's previous advocacy for DEI initiatives and support for the LGBTQ community. Fischer had previously served as CEO of advertising agency Carmichael Lynch, which promoted diversity-focused employee programs.</p><p>In response to Starbuck's claims, Harley-Davidson stated that its focus remains on building motorcycles and supporting its dealer network, emphasizing that it is not reviving DEI programs. The company also noted that one of Starrs' first actions as CEO was to restore Harley-Davidson's legacy Bar & Shield logo.</p>