Converse apologizes and pulls sneaker ad that critics said included racist imagery
Critics lashed out online, saying that a white triangular image created by lighting on K-pop singer Karina's skirt resembled a KKK hood and that the way she held the sneakers made them look like the dangling feet of a lynching victim.
Converse, the sneaker brand under Nike's ownership, issued an apology for running an Instagram advertisement that critics deemed racist. The image showed K-pop singer Karina sporting a skirt and clutching a pair of Chuck 70 X sneakers. Critics accused Converse of evoking negative connotations, suggesting the white triangular pattern formed by lighting on Karina's skirt resembled a Ku Klux Klan hood, while her handling of the sneakers appeared to mimic the dangling feet of a lynching victim.
The brand, headquartered in Boston, promptly removed the ad from its platforms and released a statement expressing regret. "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."
Converse declined to provide further details on its ad vetting process, leaving unanswered questions about how such an image managed to make it through the company's screening. Karina and her management team, SM Entertainment Group, did not return messages seeking comment. This incident joins a growing list of similar apologies from major retailers and fashion brands.
Just last month, Target pulled a Halloween costume from its shelves following public outrage over its alleged racial insensitivity, issuing an apology for selling garb similar to racist minstrel caricatures. The Converse ad sparked swift condemnation, with some calling for the dismissal of personnel involved and a boycott of the company.
Social media users questioned how the ad could have passed Converse's advertising approval process. While some defended Converse, stating the ad was not intentional, civil rights attorney Lee Merritt criticized the company's response, stating, "We keep having this conversation because corporations keep failing the same test. Do better means catching this before it airs — not after we're offended."
Established in 1908, Converse is known for its iconic Chuck Taylor All Star sneaker, first produced in 1917 as a non-skid basketball shoe, and later featuring basketball legend Chuck Taylor's signature in 1934.
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