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Converse Apologizes and Pulls Sneaker Campaign Following Criticism Over Imagery
Just the facts
Critics raised objections asserting that triangular lighting across Karina's skirt resembled a Ku Klux Klan hood and that the presentation of the shoes resembled the dangling feet of a lynching victim. The Boston, Massachusetts-based company, a subsidiary of Nike, confirmed that it removed the image across all corporate channels and is seeking to eliminate external distributions. Converse stated that it recognized the material caused distress and acknowledged failures in its advertising review process. Legal advocates including civil rights attorney Lee Merritt criticized corporate vetting standards, while some online commenters defended the brand by describing the visual similarities as unintentional.
Why this is news
Footwear manufacturer Converse issued a public apology and withdrew a social media marketing campaign following online criticism regarding the imagery used in the promotional photos. The advertisement featured South Korean singer Karina wearing a skirt and holding Chuck 70 X sneakers.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.