Lululemon founder Chip Wilson has moved to end his 20-year marriage, reportedly setting the stage for a potentially significant divorce because the couple never signed a prenuptial agreement.
Wilson, 71, is seeking a divorce from Shannon “Summer” Wilson, 52, his wife and longtime business partner, years after he exited the athletic apparel powerhouse amid backlash over a series of controversial remarks about the brand and its customers.
The U.S.-born businessman, who was raised in Canada and continues to live there, filed a family law proceeding in the Supreme Court of British Columbia in April, according to Bloomberg.
Details about what led to the end of the Wilsons’ two-decade marriage have not been made public, though people familiar with the situation told Bloomberg the couple had discussed their separation with friends.
Founding Couple Stepped Away from Brand Over a Decade Ago
Those sources also said the pair did not have a prenup in place, leaving questions about how their wealth and shared assets could be handled during the divorce proceedings, Bloomberg reported.
Both Wilsons have deep ties to Lululemon. Chip Wilson stepped back from the athleisure giant more than a decade ago, while Summer Wilson was among the company’s earliest employees and served as its founding lead designer.
In the years after leaving the company, Chip Wilson continued to draw attention for outspoken comments, including criticism of what he called the “whole diversity and inclusion thing,” which he suggested had hurt the Lululemon brand.
He also faced heavy criticism in 2013 after making remarks about some customers’ bodies and weight while discussing a recall of Lululemon pants that had been found to be too sheer.
‘Quite frankly, some women’s bodies just actually don’t work for [the pants],’ he told Bloomberg in 2013.
‘It’s more really about the rubbing through the thighs, how much pressure is there over a period of time, how much they use it.’
Product Recall and Mass Refunds
The company was forced to pull nearly 17 percent of its popular black Luon pants and offered full refunds or exchanges after customers complained that they were see-through.
Stock for Lululemon dropped by 17 percent after grossing nearly $1.4 billion in sales the year prior, ABC News reported at the time.
Although Wilson later apologized for the comments, he departed the company not long after.
Wilson would later tell Forbes in 2024 that the company’s decision to advertise ‘unhealthy’ and ‘sickly’ people was drawing in the wrong clientele.
The founder accused the company of ‘trying to become like Gap’ by appealing to the masses, or becoming ‘everything to everybody.’
‘I think the definition of a brand is that you’re not everything to everybody,’ he told the outlet. ‘You’ve got to be clear that you don’t want certain customers coming in.’
Lululemon said in a statement to TODAY at the time that Wilson ‘does not speak for lululemon, and his comments do not reflect our company views or beliefs.’
Product Recall and Mass Refunds
‘Chip has not been involved with the company since his resignation from the board in 2015 and we are a very different company today.’
‘Lululemon is committed to creating and fostering an inclusive, diverse, and welcoming environment throughout our organization and across our communities. We have made considerable progress since launching our Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Action (IDEA) function, and we are proud of the goals we have achieved.
‘We also recognize that becoming a more diverse and inclusive organization takes time and is only possible through the sustained efforts of our leaders and our people. We remain steadfast in our commitment to become a more inclusive and diverse company.’
Wilson now holds around 8.6 percent of Lululemon’s shares, equating to just less than $1 billion, Bloomberg reported.
Stock Plunges to Eight-Year Low
His wife also holds around a one percent stake in the company, valued at roughly $100 million, according to the outlet.
Lululemon has shares sitting at their lowest in eight years, with stock that fell by 17 percent last week.
Former Nike Inc executive Heidi O’Neill is set to come in as chief executive on Tuesday, the outlet reported.
The Daily Mail reached out to Lululemon and attempted to reach Chip and Summer Wilson for comment.
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