In an exclusive interview with Complex’s Editor in Chief Aria Hughes, Whitaker Group founder James Whitner spoke at length about his “no fucks given” attitude when navigating corporate spaces.
“I don’t hide,” Whitner said in the premiere episode of Please Explain—a new Complex explainer series that helps clarify culture, fashion, and music with added context. “I say it. You know coming in the door all the things. If something’s going on with me, you’ll be the first person to know. You’re never going to get blindsided. You’re going to always know what I’m thinking and why.”
Elaborating further, Whitner said this approach is born out of an acceptance of the fact that he needs to “get shit done,” meaning there’s little time available to spend and none to waste.
“I don’t have the resources to waste time,” Whitner added. “I’d rather come in like, ‘Yo, listen. This is what I need. A, B, C, D. How fast can we get it done?’”
Hughes then asked about “personal opinions” in these same spaces, prompting Whitner to lay out his “no fucks given” strategy, which has proven decidedly effective for him and his multifaceted presence across mediums.
“Oh, I don’t give a fuck about them. … Let me be more candid. People in corporate spaces probably aren’t that comfortable with how I move,” Whitner said. “Some probably have a bit of a, use a word, they feel that way, right? I can’t let their insecurities affect my confidence or what I need to get done. I’m not tiptoeing around nobody’s privilege, if you white or Black. So if you’re Black and you feel like I should be this bold, shame on you. And if you’re white and you’re nervous, shame on you. I got shit to get done.”
This approach, Whitner added, is “less about me” and “more about, like, ‘Yo, ain’t nothing moving here.’”
As for a 2023 federal complaint alleging an international money laundering scheme, Whitner also spoke candidly about this topic. Notably, he insisted he was never stressed about the issue because he had confidence the truth would prevail.
“The facts are the facts,” he said.
Whitner and The Whitaker Group — the parent company of A Ma Maniére, Social Status, and APB — recently announced they were cleared in a federal investigation, as the U.S. District Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina “declined prosecution.”
You can watch Whitner’s full interview on the debut episode of Please Explain above. He also addresses the lack of Black ownership in streetwear, his approach to design, and what draws him to collaborate.
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