Converse pulls 'deeply upsetting' advert after backlash

September 19, 2026

American footwear company Converse removed an advertisement from its social media platforms after facing significant public criticism for imagery that viewers said resembled Ku Klux Klan symbolism. The controversial photo, which was part of a promotional campaign for the Chuck 70 X trainer featuring K-pop singer Karina, showed lighting that critics compared to a white pointed hood and hanging shoes that some likened to lynching imagery. The company issued an apology acknowledging their mistake and committed to preventing similar incidents in the future.

Who is affected

Converse (the footwear brand and its reputation)
Karina, the South Korean singer from K-pop group Aespa (featured in the campaign)
Nike (Converse's parent company since 2003)
Social media users who viewed and responded to the advertisement
Communities historically impacted by KKK violence and lynching

What action is being taken

Converse is removing the photo from its social media channels
Converse is working to remove the image from other platforms where it appears

Why it matters

This incident matters because major brands have a responsibility to ensure their marketing materials do not evoke traumatic historical imagery, particularly symbols associated with racial violence and terrorism like the KKK and lynching. The backlash demonstrates how marketing campaigns require careful cultural sensitivity review, as imagery can unintentionally reference painful historical atrocities. For a global brand like Converse, such missteps can damage reputation, alienate customers, and cause genuine harm to communities that have experienced racial violence.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC