Key facts
- Converse has pulled an advertisement after it was criticized for evoking KKK imagery.
- The advert featured a photo posted on Converse's Instagram account.
- Critics described the lighting in the image as resembling a white pointed hood.
- Shoes dangling in the picture were likened to an image of a lynching victim.
- Converse stated it recognized "that we got this wrong" and apologized.
- The company said the photo was part of a campaign promoting its Chuck 70 X trainer.
American footwear brand Converse has removed an advertisement from its social media platforms following widespread criticism that it evoked imagery associated with the Ku Klux Klan and lynching. The company acknowledged the misstep, stating, "We're sorry. We understand why this image is deeply upsetting and recognize that we got this wrong."
The controversial photo, posted on Converse's Instagram account, drew backlash as users pointed out that the lighting resembled a white pointed hood, a symbol associated with the KKK. Additionally, a pair of shoes dangling in the image were likened to an image of a lynching victim.
Converse confirmed that the image has been removed from its social media channels and that efforts are underway to eliminate it from other platforms. The company pledged to "do better" in the future.
The advert was part of an international campaign launched on August 27 to promote its Chuck 70 X trainer. The campaign features Karina, a singer from the K-pop group Aespa. Converse, founded in the early 1900s, has been a subsidiary of Nike since 2003.