Converse Pulls Ad After Accusations of KKK and Lynching Imagery
The shoe company issued an apology, stating 'This should not have happened and we will do better.'
Converse has pulled an advertising campaign for its Chuck 70 X trainer following accusations that the imagery invoked symbols of the Ku Klux Klan and lynching. The brand, owned by Nike, issued a public apology for the offensive content.
"We’re sorry. We understand why this image is deeply upsetting and recognize that we got this wrong," the company stated Friday. "We removed it from our channels and are working to remove it everywhere it appeared."
The ad featured K-pop star Karina wearing a white skirt, with some critics drawing parallels between the pose and images of lynching victims' feet. The lighting on her skirt was also perceived by some as resembling a KKK hood.
Civil rights attorney Lee Merritt criticized the company's process, writing on X: "An apology doesn't undo what got past legal, marketing and leadership at every step. Do better means catching this before it airs, not after we're offended."
Online reactions were divided, with some arguing that the imagery was unintentional while others questioned how the ad progressed through the company's review stages.
This controversy follows another recent campaign for Converse's Jack Purcell PDM sneaker collection, released earlier in September. Ads for that collection showed a man climbing a ladder while holding sneakers hanging from a tree, which some interpreted as alluding to the Klan.
Converse also faced criticism in September 2025 for a collaboration with singer Charli XCX. The limited-edition sneakers, designed with a distressed and ripped appearance, were criticized for the rips being printed on rather than actual tears. Charli XCX responded to the backlash by suggesting customers could tear the shoes themselves.