Converse pulls latest shoes ad after critics accuse of sharing 'racist' and 'reckless' KKK imagery, tell me about this news in (https://www.foxnews.com/media/converse-pulls-latest-shoes-ad-after-critics-accuse-sharing-racist-reckless-kkk-imagery)
21-09-2026
According to the Fox News report, Conversea subsidiary of Nikepulled a promotional campaign and issued an apology following intense online backlash and accusations that the advertisement evoked Ku Klux Klan and lynching imagery.
Key Details of the Story:The Advertisement: The campaign featured K-pop singer Karina (from the girl group aespa) promoting the Chuck 70 X and Run Star Crush sneakers. In the visual, Karina was shown wearing a long white skirt under a star-shaped spotlight while holding a pair of black high-top sneakers.
The Backlash: Social media users and public figures raised concerns about the composition of the image, arguing that the styling and framing resembled a hooded KKK member, while the shoes dangling from her hands looked reminiscent of the dangling feet of a lynching victim.
Reactions from Officials: Among the most prominent critics was U.S. Representative Troy Carter (D-La.), who condemned the visual, stating: “Nike and Converse, what the hell were you thinking? … There is nothing creative or artistic about it. It is racist, reckless and deeply offensive.” A spokesperson for Carter later stated that a standard apology was insufficient and urged the companies to investigate how the ad was approved and implement safeguards.
The Company’s Response: Converse took down the ad across its channels and issued an apology stating: “We’re sorry. 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.”