Converse apologizes and pulls sneaker ad that critics said included racist imagery
The brand said it removed the image and would do better after critics said the ad evoked racist imagery.
- 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.
324 Articles
324 Articles
Converse pulls ad after leftists see nonexistent KKK imagery: 'They want so badly to be offended'
A sneaker advertisement featuring a K-pop star has become the latest victim of the left.Converse pulled an image featuring Karina of the group Aespa and issued a public apology after critics claimed the ad's lighting and composition evoked imagery associated with the Ku Klux Klan and lynching.“We’re sorry,” Converse said in a statement. “We understand why this image is deeply upsetting and recognize that we got this wrong.” The company removed t…
Converse removes ad campaign criticized over KKK-esque imagery, issues apology
Lee Merritt, a civil rights attorney in Texas, criticized the company's apology in an Instagram post, saying that it “does not undo what the legal, marketing, and management departments went through.
Converse pulls sneaker ad that critics said included racist imagery - Los Angeles Wave Newspaper Group
By Dave Collins Contributing Writer BOSTON – The sneaker company Converse has removed a social media ad that sparked outrage among critics who viewed it as evoking the Ku Klux Klan and lynching. The Instagram ad photo showed K-pop singer Karina wearing a skirt and holding a pair of Chuck 70 X sneakers. Critics lashed out online, saying that a white triangular image created by lighting on the skirt resembled a KKK hood and that the way she held t…
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