Portland Timbers REMOVE DaBella as their shirt sponsor after the building company’s CEO Donnie McMillan Jr is accused of misconduct and sexual harassment of three female employees
- DaBella’s former CFO raised these allegations in a lawsuit over unpaid wages
- DaBella began sponsorship this season, taking over from Alaska Airlines
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The Portland Timbers have officially removed home improvement company DaBella as their primary jersey sponsor in light of allegations of misconduct and sexual harassment against the company’s CEO, Donnie McMillan Jr.
In a statement released Wednesday, the Timbers said the team “has terminated the club’s business partnership with DaBella, effective immediately, after learning yesterday of allegations of corporate misconduct contained in a lawsuit made public on February 23.”
‘The Timbers and a third party conducted a thorough due diligence process before the deal, and the club did not learn of the filing until February 27.
“This decision is rooted in the responsibility we have to our fans, supporters, partners and employees to transparently reflect and uphold the values and expectations of our community.”
According to Ryan Clarke and Jeff Manning of The Oregonianallegations of sexual harassment and unwanted advances against at least three female employees were raised in a lawsuit that dealt with an entirely different issue.
The Portland Timbers have ended their uniform sponsorship with DaBella, which began this year
DaBella CEO Donnie McMillan Jr. is accused of sexual harassment and unwanted advances
The suit was filed by former CFO Lowell “Greg” Swartz, who claims the company failed to pay him money he believes he is owed after he was fired in 2022.
As The Oregonian says, “It’s the legal maneuvering over these claims that could expose what Swartz said are allegations of McMillan’s inappropriate treatment of female employees.”
Last week, attorneys representing Swartz asked the court overseeing the lawsuit to “order McMillan and DaBella to produce documents on at least three claims and two settlement agreements involving allegations of sexual harassment and unwanted sexual advances in the workplace.”
Lawyers representing DaBella called the allegations “absolutely ridiculous” and “a cash grab by a disgruntled former employee” trying to “create a PR nightmare.”
The Oregonian reports that no court records in Oregon or Washington indicate any lawsuits have been filed against McMillan or DaBella for alleged misconduct.
DaBella became the Timbers’ new jersey sponsor this season after the club’s 13-year deal with longtime sponsor Alaska Airlines came to an end.
“We have enjoyed a long and impactful partnership with the Portland Timbers,” the airline said in a statement last fall. “Our current sponsorship agreement expires at the end of the 2023 season and we have jointly decided not to renew.”
Alaska Airlines and the Timbers’ ownership group briefly had a frosty relationship after it emerged that Merritt Paulson (who owns the Timbers and previously owned the Portland Thorns NWSL team) was aware of alleged abuse by former Thorns coach Paul Riley towards multiple players.
The team played only one game in the DaBella uniforms before the move was announced. It was the first season of this kit sponsorship, with the company taking over from Alaska Airlines.
When the results of that investigation were announced, Alaska Airlines announced that they would redirect their sponsorship contributions from the club to the NWSL Players’ Association.
Paulson has since sold the Thorns, while Riley will never coach in the NWSL again.
That led to the DaBella sponsorship and the club played in one match wearing the new kits before the deal was terminated on Wednesday.