00:00Gen Zers spark vigorous debate after calling Nike Air Force Ones a dad shoe.
00:06An ex-user, at my mix tapes, sparked chaos after posting a photo of young men hovering over a trash bin holding white Nike Air Force Ones.
00:14Captioned, Gen Z is now calling the Nike Air Force Ones a dad shoe.
00:19The post hit 4.2 million views and nearly 600 replies, with backlash quickly shifting blame to Gen Alpha, TikTok's pre-teen crowd.
00:28Debuting in 1982 with Nike's Air Tech, the AF1 jumped from courts to New York and Baltimore corner stores as hip-hop arrived with Jay-Z, Fat Joe, and Nelly.
00:38Give me two pairs, I need two pairs so I can get to stompin' in my Air Force Ones.
00:44Gen Alpha's redefining sneaker culture, dubbing Nike Air Force Ones a dad shoe.
00:49Favoring slimmer, retro styles like Adidas Sambas and Onitsuka Tigers, they've swapped out bulk for minimalism.
00:56Meanwhile, Gen Z remains loyal, keeping the AF1 alive as an everyday streetwear staple despite shifting trends.
01:04Nike has rolled out over 2,000 AF1 variations, from the Flax Quickstrike and Distressed White to Gore-Tex and Vibram-souled versions.
01:13They remain a top-five global seller according to USA Today, though under-20 sales dip as 90-day trends collide with a 40-year reign.
01:21Replies to the viral post quickly turned into a generational comedy show.
01:25Part defense, part correction, part chaos.
01:28From forces ain't going nowhere to it's the middle school TikTokers, users clapped back with pride and humor, proving sneakers still spark deeper cultural debates beyond fashion trends.
01:39Sneaker experts dub it the sneaker circle of life, where shoes go from trendy to tired to timeless again.
01:46The Air Force Ones' dad shoe moment might be short-lived, with TikTok stylists already hinting at a 2026 revival.
01:54At its core, this isn't just about sneakers, it's about cultural ownership.
01:58For millennials, the Air Force One meant rebellion.
02:01For Gen Z, identity.
02:03For Gen Alpha, irony.
02:05Yet through every meme or mockery, it remains hip-hop's enduring symbol.
02:10Proof that style never truly fades, only evolves.
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