Mark Oblow is back with Gravis Skateboarding, and it seems like the past is staying in the past.
The brand announced his return, bringing him on as a creative advisor, a role that connects the original Gravis Footwear from 2008 with its recently revived version.
As we previously reported, Oblow was at the center of controversy over his comments on Mark "Gator" Rogowski and the murder of Jessica Bergsten. Then issued an apology after getting facing backlash.
He described the crime as "rough sex gone wrong," a statement that led to heavy outrage from skateboarders.
Oblow eventually responded with an apology video on Instagram, acknowledging the insensitivity of his words.
However, that video has since been deleted, and his return to Gravis suggests that the brand is moving forward without publicly addressing the controversy.
Sharing the news on social media, Oblow wrote about meeting with the Gravis Japan team last September and how much it meant to him to be asked to join.
"I was very honored that they asked me to join the team and be a creative advisor. gravis was one of my favorite brands i worked on in my career. so to have the opportunity to join forces with the japan crew and get gravis back is a dream! arigato gozaimasu @kenyask8 and the rest of the gravis japan team for asking me to be apart of gravis again.
i'm so excited to see what we can do.
stay tuned and look out."
His message focused entirely on his excitement for the opportunity, avoiding any mention of past criticisms or the backlash he faced in 2022, as he already moved on.
Gravis Skateboarding also made things official, stating, "Mark Oblow is back. We officially announce that @markoblow has joined the Gravis team. He is the one and only person who connects Gravis Footwear, which started in 2008, with the newly revived Gravis from last year. Stay tuned for more from Gravis."
While some might still have strong opinions about Oblow’s past remarks, it looks like Gravis has given him a fresh start.
Whether the skateboarding community at large embraces his return remains to be seen, but for now, Oblow is back in the mix, ready to help shape the brand once again.
His return raises questions about accountability and how the skateboarding industry handles figures who have been at the center of controversy.
Some will see this as a redemption story, while others may view it as an attempt to sweep past mistakes under the rug.
Either way, Oblow is stepping into his role at Gravis with a clean slate—at least in the eyes of the brand.