Converse has removed a social media advertisement after critics said the image evoked racist imagery associated with the Ku Klux Klan and lynching.
The advertisement featured K-pop singer Karina wearing a skirt and holding a pair of Chuck 70 X sneakers. Critics said a white triangular shape created by lighting on the skirt resembled a Ku Klux Klan hood, while the position of the sneakers was interpreted by some as resembling the dangling feet of a lynching victim.
Converse, which is owned by Nike, apologised and said it had removed the advertisement from its social media channels and was working to remove it from other places where it appeared.
“We’re sorry,” the company said in a statement. Converse said it understood why the image was upsetting and acknowledged that it had made an error.
Converse faces questions over ad approval
The Boston-based sneaker company did not provide additional details when asked how the advertisement was reviewed before publication or how it passed the company’s approval process.
The controversy spread quickly online, with some social media users calling for employees involved in the campaign to be dismissed and others urging a boycott of Converse.
Not all reactions interpreted the image as intentional. Some commenters defended the company and said they did not believe the imagery was deliberately designed to evoke racist symbolism.
Karina and her management company, SM Entertainment Group, did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment through Instagram, according to the Associated Press.
Broader concerns over advertising imagery
The incident comes after several retailers and fashion brands have faced criticism over advertising or products that consumers said carried racially insensitive imagery.
In August, Target removed a children’s Halloween costume after social media criticism that the design resembled a racist minstrel caricature. The retailer also apologised for selling the item.
Texas civil rights attorney Lee Merritt criticised Converse’s response on Instagram, arguing that an apology does not address how the image passed through legal, marketing and leadership review.
Converse was founded in Massachusetts in 1908 and is known for its Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers. The original shoe was introduced in 1917 as a basketball shoe, with basketball player Chuck Taylor’s name added to the design in 1934, according to the company.
The company has not said whether any further action will be taken over the advertisement or whether its internal advertising review procedures will change.
Source: The Guardian
