Converse removes ad campaign criticized over KKK-esque imagery, issues apology

US shoe manufacturer Converse issued an official apology on Friday after a recent advertisement campaign sparked controversy over what some perceived as KKK-like imagery. The ad, which has been since removed from the company's Instagram, featured K-pop star Karina wearing a pair of Converse Chuck 70 X sneakers. Critics pointed out that the lighting on the singer's white skirt resembled a KKK hood, while the way she held the shoes seemed to suggest a person had been hanged.

Converse expressed regret in its apology, stating, "We're sorry." They acknowledged the image deeply upset viewers and admitted they made a mistake. The company swiftly removed the ad from its channels and is working to eliminate it from all other appearances. Converse emphasized that this situation should not have occurred and committed to doing better in the future.

The backlash led some to demand the staff members responsible for the campaign be fired. Social media users questioned how the ad was approved in the first place. Despite the controversy, others defended the company, suggesting the imagery may have been unintentional. Converse did not respond to requests for comment from N12, while Karina and her management company, SM Entertainment Group, also declined to comment.

Civil rights attorney Lee Merritt criticized Converse's apology in an Instagram post, stating that it "does not undo what the legal, marketing, and management departments went through at every level." Merritt added, "We continue to have this conversation because corporations continue to fail the same test." She emphasized that "doing better" requires catching issues before they are broadcasted, not after they have caused harm.