Converse shoes are seen in the store in Krakow, Poland on August 26, 2021. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Chile, Converse has some explaining to do after two separate campaign images had social media doing a serious double take. The brand is now speaking out after folks online had some serious questions about the visuals. And once you see what had people talking, youll understand why the internet wasnt letting this one slide.
Converse has apologized after photos from two ad campaigns drew criticism online, with social media users comparing elements of the images to Ku Klux Klan hoods and lynching imagery. In a statement, the Nike-owned brand acknowledged the backlash and said it understood why the image was “deeply upsetting.”Converse also said it removed the image from its channels and was working to remove it everywhere it appeared.
Were 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.
As previously reported, one of the images features K-pop star Karina of Aespa, who appears as the face of a campaign highlighting the Chuck 70 X and Run Star Crush sneakers. In the photo, Karina stands inside a large Converse star while wearing a white skirt and holding two sneakers. Some viewers said the lighting and positioning created a white triangular shape they felt resembled a KKK hood. While many think the shoes appeared to resemble dangling legs.
Folks quickly ran to The Shade Rooms Instagram comment section, and chile, the reactions were definitely split. Some felt people were reachingand reading too much into the campaign imagery. While others pushed back, saying that dismissing the comparisons is part of the problem and that the imagery should have been caught before the ads went live.
One Instagram user @theealvingray said, “Can y’all bully FASFA some kinda way and make them come off as racist , so we can get a refund or something”
This Instagram user @bibbs.__ claimed, “Corporations really be trying to see what they can get away withthe well do better message was already made just in case ”
And, Instagram user @chefjohncartel shared, “I Been Black 37yrs Did I Miss The Meeting Or Something??? All I Seen Was A Lil Wednesday Girl Holding A Pair Of Keds Well Chucks & A Star ”
Meanwhile, Instagram user @ocst_ar87 commented, “That’s why diversity is important. They need people of color in these marketing rooms.”
While Instagram user @poseidon__1995 wrote, “It really wasnt that deep yall just love to make something out of nothing”
Finally, Instagram user @guardian.network said, “People who’s saying it’s not deep is part of the problem ”
