Converse apologizes and pulls sneaker ad that critics said included racist imagery
Converse apologized and removed the image after critics said the lighting and shadows evoked racist violence and raised questions about its approval process.
- On Friday, Converse removed a social media advertisement featuring K-pop star Karina of Aespa after critics argued the lighting and composition resembled Ku Klux Klan hoods and lynching imagery. The Nike-owned brand issued a formal apology, stating it understood why the image was 'deeply upsetting.'
- The Chuck 70 X campaign, launched globally August 27, featured Karina standing under a star-shaped spotlight wearing a white skirt. Social media users claimed the lighting created a triangular silhouette resembling a KKK hood, while dangling shoes evoked lynching imagery, intensifying when a separate Converse x Palmes collaboration surfaced showing sneakers hanging from a tree.
- Chicago-Based photographer Stephanie Schwartz wrote that 'whoever did this ad knew EXACTLY what they were doing,' while civil rights attorney Lee Merritt, based in Texas, stated the apology 'doesn't undo what got past legal, marketing and leadership at every step.' Both critiqued the company's vetting process.
- Converse Chief Executive Officer Aaron Cain acknowledged in a memo that 'The images should not have been used' and committed to reviewing internal processes. The company confirmed removal from all social channels and pledged to eliminate the advertisement everywhere it appeared.
- Target pulled a Halloween costume last month after critics said it evoked racist minstrel caricatures, while Urban Outfitters sold a Kent State sweatshirt in 2014 with blood stains referencing a deadly shooting. These recurring brand failures reflect mounting pressure on retailers to improve cultural sensitivity in advertising oversight.
254 Articles
254 Articles
Shameful or faux outrage: Why has this Converse ad been pulled?
The ad, posted on Instagram, showed K-pop singer Karina wearing a skirt and holding a pair of trainers. Critics claimed the lighting on Karina's skirt created a white triangular image which resembled a KKK hood.
CONVERSE has pulled an ad campaign after accusations that the visuals resembled the Ku Klux Klan. The Nike-owned company apologized and removed the content in question from its channels.
Converse, a shoe brand under Nike, has withdrawn advertising for its Chuck 70 X model and issued an apology after the advertisement was criticized for depicting symbols of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) and the hanging of Black people.
Converse pulls ad, apologizes after backlash over alleged KKK imagery, ABC News reports
Sept 21 (Reuters) - Nike-owned Converse has pulled an advertisement that sparked a public backlash last week, ABC News reported on Monday, as critics said it evoked imagery of Black lynchings by the Ku Klux Klan white supremacist group. The ad, which...
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