Photo by Maria Fernanda Pissioli on Unsplash
Converse Pulls Sneaker Ad After Racism Backlash
Converse has apologized and pulled a sneaker ad after critics said its imagery evoked racist references to the Ku Klux Klan and lynching.
The ad featured K-pop singer Karina wearing a long white skirt. She also held a pair of Converse Chuck 70 X hi-top sneakers.
However, the image quickly drew criticism online. Some critics said the skirt resembled a Ku Klux Klan hood. Others said Karina’s pose with the sneakers evoked imagery associated with a lynching victim.
As a result, Converse removed the ad from its social media channels. The company also said it would work to remove the image from other platforms.
Converse apologizes for controversial ad
Converse addressed the backlash in a statement to CBS News.
“We’re sorry,” the company said. It also acknowledged why the image upset people and admitted that the company got it wrong.
In addition, Converse said it had removed the image from its channels. The company also said it was working to remove the ad everywhere it appeared.
“This should not have happened,” Converse said. The company then promised to do better.
The apology came after social media users criticized the visual elements of the campaign. In particular, critics focused on the shape of Karina’s skirt and her position while holding the sneakers.
Civil rights attorney responds
Civil rights attorney Lee Merritt also addressed the controversy on Instagram.
Merritt criticized the company’s response. He argued that an apology did not erase concerns about how the image passed through Converse’s review process.
Meanwhile, Karina and her management company, SM Entertainment Group, had not immediately responded to messages through their Instagram accounts.
Converse has since removed the advertisement from its channels.
Converse faces advertising backlash
Converse is owned by Nike and has a long history in the footwear industry. The company began in Malden, Massachusetts, in 1908.
Later, Converse introduced the Chuck Taylor All Star basketball sneaker in 1917. Since then, the brand has become closely associated with its classic sneaker designs.
However, the latest controversy puts one of those designs at the center of a wider advertising debate.
Brands often face intense online scrutiny when audiences believe an advertisement references racist imagery. In this case, critics quickly connected the visual to painful chapters in American history.
Target faced similar criticism
Converse is not the only major brand to face backlash over allegedly racist imagery.
In August, Target stopped selling a children’s Halloween costume after critics said it evoked racist minstrel caricatures. The Associated Press reported on the controversy.
Target later acknowledged the criticism and called the costume offensive.
“The costume is offensive and should never have been part of our assortment,” Target said in a statement.
The retailer also said it had removed the costume from sale. Furthermore, Target said it was reviewing how the product entered its assortment and what changes it needed to make.
Brands face scrutiny over racial imagery
The Converse controversy shows how quickly advertising campaigns can face public scrutiny.
For Converse, the backlash led to an apology and the removal of the ad. The company also acknowledged that it should have handled the campaign differently.
Meanwhile, the incident has renewed attention on the review process behind major advertising campaigns.
As brands continue to rely heavily on visual marketing, creative decisions can reach millions of people within hours. Therefore, companies face growing pressure to consider how audiences may interpret their imagery before campaigns go public.
Source: CBS News, Megan Cerullo, September 21, 2026. The Associated Press contributed to the report.
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