Converse apologizes and removes ad criticized for racist imagery

Converse apologized and removed a sneaker advertisement after critics said its styling evoked imagery associated with the Ku Klux Klan and lynching. The company said it had taken the image off its own channels and was working to remove it wherever else it appeared. The image showed aespa singer Karina wearing a white skirt and holding black Chuck 70 X sneakers at her side. Critics said the garment’s lighting formed a triangle resembling a Klan hood, while the shoes’ position appeared to evoke the dangling feet of a lynching victim. Those descriptions reflect critics’ interpretations; the available accounts do not establish whether the resemblance was intended. In a statement, Converse said it understood why the image was upsetting and acknowledged that it had got the campaign wrong. The company said the image should not have been published and that it would do better. Its apology and removal announcement were shared with multiple news organizations, but all the reports traced those details to the same company statement. The image was part of a promotion for the Chuck 70 X, featuring Karina, a member of the K-pop group aespa.