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Converse Apologizes for KKK-Evoking Ad
19 Sep
Summary
- Converse apologized for an Instagram ad criticized as KKK imagery.
- The ad featured lighting resembling a white hood and dangling shoes.
- The campaign launched internationally on August 27 and featured Karina of Aespa.
American footwear brand Converse has retracted an advertisement that faced widespread backlash on social media for its perceived Ku Klux Klan (KKK) imagery. Critics on social media highlighted the advertisement's lighting, which some users stated resembled a white pointed hood characteristic of the KKK. Additionally, shoes depicted dangling in the image were likened by some users to visuals of lynching victims.
Converse issued an apology on Friday, acknowledging that the company "got this wrong" and recognizing the deeply upsetting nature of the image. The brand confirmed the advertisement had been removed from its social media platforms and efforts were underway to eliminate it from other channels. The ad was part of an international campaign for the Chuck 70 X trainer, which launched on August 27 and features Karina from the K-pop group Aespa.
Founded in Massachusetts in the early 1900s, Converse has a long history, with its popularity surging after the introduction of the Chuck Taylor sneaker in 1917. The brand has been a subsidiary of Nike since 2003. The company stated, "This should not have happened and we will do better."
