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Converse Pulls Ad After Outcry Over KKK and Lynching Imagery
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Moneycontrol•20-09-2026, 18:32
Converse Pulls Ad After Outcry Over KKK and Lynching Imagery
- •Converse removed a global sneaker ad featuring K-pop star Karina after social media users identified imagery resembling KKK symbols and racial lynchings.
- •Critics argued the ad's lighting created a pointed white silhouette similar to a KKK hood, and black sneakers resembled dangling feet of a lynching victim.
- •The imagery sparked widespread outrage across social media platforms, with users questioning the approval process for the campaign.
- •The controversy stems from the historical context of the KKK's white supremacist violence and the practice of lynching against Black Americans.
- •Converse issued an apology, stating, "We understand why this image is deeply upsetting and recognise that we got this wrong," and committed to removing it from all platforms.
Key Questions Answered
The campaign sparked outrage because social media users argued that its imagery—featuring a star-shaped spotlight and hanging shoes—resembled Ku Klux Klan hoods and racial lynchings in the US.
The advertisement featured Karina, who is a member of the K-pop group aespa and a global ambassador for Converse, promoting the Chuck 70 X sneaker.
Converse issued a public apology stating they got it wrong, removed the image from all of their channels, and stated they are working to remove it everywhere it appeared.
