Converse recently issued an apology and retracted an advertisement that faced backlash for allegedly depicting imagery associated with the Ku Klux Klan. The ad, which has since been taken down from the Nike subsidiary’s social media platforms, featured K-pop star Karina from the group aespa showcasing the Chuck 70 X and Run Star Crush sneakers. In the visual, she held a pair of black high-top shoes beneath a star-shaped light while wearing a long white skirt.
Many on social media pointed out that Karina’s appearance bore a resemblance to a KKK member, with the shoes evoking images of a lynching victim. Among the critics was Rep. Troy Carter from Louisiana, who issued a statement condemning the advertisement.
Carter expressed his outrage, stating, “Nike and Converse, what the hell were you thinking? Your campaign shows what looks like a hooded Klansman, framed by what appears to be the dangling feet of a lynching victim. There is nothing creative or artistic about it. It is racist, reckless, and deeply offensive.”
In the wake of this criticism, Converse decided to remove the ad and issued an apology. The company acknowledged, “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.”
This incident occurs as Nike prepares to be excluded from the S&P 100, following a significant drop in its market value by over $200 billion since 2021. The brand has often been accused by conservative critics of adopting a “woke” stance through its collaborations with figures such as Colin Kaepernick and Dylan Mulvaney. Interestingly, Nike has also faced criticism from more progressive circles as well.
In April, Nike caught attention for a Boston Marathon advertisement that read, “Runners welcome. Walkers tolerated,” a message some saw as “pace-shaming.”
A spokesperson for Carter’s office remarked that merely apologizing and removing the imagery doesn’t suffice. “An apology and the removal of the images are not enough. Nike and Converse must explain how this campaign was conceived and approved, identify those responsible, and commission an independent investigation. They must also disclose the process and establish safeguards to ensure that imagery invoking the Klan and the lynching of Black people is never approved again,” the spokesperson stated.
