Converse apologizes after ad sparks KKK and lynching imagery criticism
Converse withdrew two campaign images after users said they resembled Ku Klux Klan hoods and lynching scenes, and the company issued an apology.
Converse said it will remove two recent campaign images after social-media users said the visuals evoked Ku Klux Klan hoods and lynching symbolism. The first picture featured K-pop singer Karina of Aespa standing inside a star-shaped logo with a white skirt; some viewers said the lighting created a triangular shape reminiscent of a KKK hood and that the shoes looked like dangling legs. The second image, posted on the brand’s Malaysia Instagram account, showed a man on a ladder holding shoes that were hanging from a tree, which also drew criticism.
The company responded to inquiries from fashion news outlets, stating, > "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."
Users on Threads highlighted the perceived parallels, with one commenting that a child immediately associated the ad with the KKK. Another user described the second image as "abhorrent" and "repugnant."
The controversy comes amid broader concerns about racial violence in the United States, with recent calls from lawmakers for federal investigations into recent hangings of Black individuals.