Converse Pulls Ad After Accusations of Racist Imagery

Converse apologized and removed a shoe advertisement last week after a number of social media users accused the imagery of resembling Ku Klux Klan attire and evoking the trauma of lynching. The ad featured K-pop singer Karina of the girl group aespa promoting Chuck 70 X and Run Star Crush sneakers.

Critics, including Rep. Troy Carter, D-La., stated that the ad showed Karina in a white skirt, holding black high-top shoes under a spotlight, which they interpreted as resembling a KKK hood and the dangling feet of a lynching victim. Carter released a statement condemning the ad, calling it "racist, reckless and deeply offensive."

In response to the backlash, Converse issued an apology. "We’re sorry. We understand why this image is deeply upsetting and recognize that we got this wrong," the company stated. "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."

However, a spokesperson for Carter said the apology and removal were insufficient. "An apology and the removal of the images are not enough," the spokesperson stated. "Nike and Converse must explain how this campaign was conceived and approved, identify those responsible, and commission an independent investigation. They must also disclose the process and establish safeguards to ensure that imagery invoking the Klan and the lynching of Black people is never approved again."

The incident occurs as Converse's parent company, Nike, faces scrutiny and has seen a significant drop in market value. Nike is set to be removed from the S&P 100 after nearly 18 years, having lost more than $200 billion in shareholder value since 2021. Conservative critics have frequently accused Nike of aligning with progressive causes through partnerships with figures like Colin Kaepernick and Dylan Mulvaney. Previously, Nike faced criticism for a Boston Marathon ad that some interpreted as "pace-shaming."