Cinema VinesConverse has pulled a controversial Instagram advertisement after critics accused it of evoking Ku Klux Klan imagery and lynching. The ad featured K‑pop star Karina wearing a skirt and holding a pair of Chuck 70 X sneakers. Viewers noted that a white triangular shape created by lighting on the skirt resembled a KKK hood, while the way Karina held the shoes made them appear like the dangling feet of a lynching victim.
In a statement released Friday, Converse, which is owned by Nike and headquartered in Boston, apologized and confirmed the ad was removed from all channels. The company said, “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.”
Converse declined to answer questions on Sunday about its ad‑screening process or how the campaign received approval. Neither Karina nor her management firm, SM Entertainment Group, responded to messages sent via Instagram. The backlash has included calls for staff involved in the ad to be fired and a boycott of the brand.
Legal experts have weighed in, with Texas civil‑rights attorney Lee Merritt criticizing the apology as insufficient. “Converse’s apology doesn’t undo what got past legal, marketing and leadership at every step,” he wrote on Instagram. “Do better means catching this before it airs — not after we’re offended.”
Converse’s misstep follows a trend of fashion and retail brands issuing apologies for racially insensitive products. Last month, Target withdrew a children’s Halloween costume after social media backlash over minstrel‑style imagery. The incident highlights ongoing challenges for companies in vetting advertising content before it reaches the public.
Founded in Malden, Massachusetts in 1908, Converse is best known for the Chuck Taylor All Star sneaker, originally released in 1917 as a non‑skid basketball shoe and later branded with the name of player and promoter Chuck Taylor in 1934. The company’s latest controversy underscores the importance of cultural sensitivity in marketing campaigns.
