Converse Apologizes, Pulls Ad After Accusations of Racist Imagery
The sneaker company removed an Instagram ad featuring K-pop singer Karina after critics claimed it evoked symbols of the Ku Klux Klan and lynching.
Converse has removed a social media advertisement following a backlash from critics who stated the imagery evoked racist symbols, including those associated with the Ku Klux Klan and lynching.
The Instagram ad featured K-pop singer Karina wearing a skirt and holding a pair of Chuck 70 X sneakers. Online critics pointed to a white, triangular shape created by lighting on the skirt, which they said resembled a KKK hood. Additionally, the way Karina held the sneakers was interpreted by some as resembling the dangling feet of a lynching victim.
Converse, a subsidiary of Nike, issued a statement acknowledging the concerns and confirming the ad's removal. "We’re sorry," the statement read. "We understand why this image is deeply upsetting and recognize that we got this wrong. We removed it from our channels and are working to remove it everywhere it appeared. This should not have happened and we will do better."
Representatives for Converse, based in Boston, declined on Sunday to provide further details regarding the company's ad screening and approval processes. Karina and her management company, SM Entertainment Group, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
This incident follows a pattern of major retailers and fashion brands issuing apologies for products that have faced criticism for racial insensitivity. Last month, Target pulled a children's Halloween costume after widespread backlash, with critics asserting it evoked racist minstrel caricatures.
The Converse ad drew swift criticism online, with some users calling for the termination of staff involved and advocating for a boycott of the company. Many commenters questioned how the ad progressed through the company's vetting process, while others defended Converse, suggesting the imagery was not intentional.
Lee Merritt, a civil rights attorney, commented on Instagram that the apology did not negate the fact that the ad passed through legal, marketing, and leadership reviews. "We keep having this conversation because corporations keep failing the same test," he wrote. "Do better means catching this before it airs — not after we’re offended."
Converse, founded in 1908, is known for its iconic Chuck Taylor All Star sneaker, which was first released in 1917 and later added the signature of basketball player Chuck Taylor.