Chaos Erupts at Wimbledon As Primary Sponsor?s $38 Billion Move Against Environment Irks Emma Thompson and Other Celebrities As They Launch Petition

Every Grand Slam competition this year would be incomplete without a little drama. While tennis fans might enjoy the drama, the tournament organizers and players may face certain difficulties. Yes, and now that the 2023 season is set to begin with Wimbledon in just one day, the competition has already run into serious issues, which have caused turmoil among the tournament’s organizers.

Yes, there has been an issue with Wimbledon’s newest collaboration with Barclays. As the banks continue to invest billions in projects involving fossil fuels. A lot of celebrities, including Emma Thompson, and sponsors involved in the event are upset with the British bank. And stating that they could be making money off of the current global climate crisis, which is a major worry.

Wimbledon organizers are stuck with a grave problem

Celebrities and sponsors of the event are constantly urging the tournament’s organizers to end their affiliation with the British bank. Yes, celebrities, including Richard Curtis, Emma Thompson, and Deborah Meaden, are among those who have called on Wimbledon to end its new partnership with Barclays. And have filed a petition against the partnership.

They have raised the concern that the bank is financing and profiting from climate chaos. The group claims that the deal, which is reportedly worth nearly ?20 million a year, that is harming the club’s reputation because it’s been up for a long time. Not only that, the multi-year partnership was announced in November last year with Barclays. As they replaced HSBC after literally 15 years of having a good sponsorship relationship.

According to the Guardian reports, the campaigners believe that that deal is inconsistent with the Wimbledon cultural legacy and environmental policies. Moreover, in the past few years, the club has announced a range of sustainable measures to mitigate climate change. In April this year the tournament announced that a refundable water system was on the court for the first time.

But the critics of the British Bank deal have now accused the club of greenwashing. And shared the idea that the bank has given more than $38 billion to Oil and Gas companies, including Exxon Mobil, Shell, and TotalEnergies, in the past few years. Along with that, it believes that its relations with fossil fuel companies might change the whole ideology behind what the tournament has been working on.

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However, that’s not it. Did you know that the 25-year-old American tennis player Frances Tiafoe also shares a connection with Barclays? Let’s take a look at how the rising tennis sensation is connected to the British bank.

Frances Tiafoe’s storage connection with Barclays

The 25-year-old tennis pro is this year’s Wimbledon sponsorship brand ambassador for Barclays. Yes, you read it correctly; he also made an appearance in a Barclays promotional video that highlighted his personal hardships. The life of an Afro-American celebrity has served as an example for many.

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When he was named the collaboration’s brand ambassador in 2022. He also stated his delight about teaming up with Barclays to beautifully transform the lives of young people. Not only that, but the British bank is also exploiting his motivational tale of making it to the Sporting Arena to alter people’s lives.