Converse withdraws sneaker ad after criticism over perceived KKK imagery

Converse has taken down a promotional image for its Chuck 70 X sneaker after it sparked criticism on social media for appearing to depict a Ku Klux Klan hood and a lynching. The ad showed K-pop performer Karina of Aespa standing under a star-shaped light while holding a pair of black high-top sneakers; the lighting created a silhouette that many users said resembled a pointed hood, and the dangling shoes were likened to a hanging victim.

The picture was posted to the brand’s social-media channels earlier this month, shortly after the shoe’s global launch on August 27. After the backlash grew, an uncropped version of the ad was shared online, intensifying the comparison.

Converse, owned by Nike, issued a statement to The Independent apologising, saying it understood why the image was “deeply upsetting,” acknowledging the mistake, and confirming the ad had been removed from all channels.

Public reaction included comments from fans and figures such as actress Yvette Nicole Brown, who called the image a lynching, and photographer Stephanie Schwartz, who suggested the ad’s creator “knew exactly what they were doing.”

The controversy also revived discussion of another Converse campaign for a collaboration with Copenhagen-based brand Palmes, which featured sneakers hanging from a tree branch. Social-media users linked the two images, expressing heightened concern over the visual themes.