Nike-owned Converse has removed a social media advertisement and issued a public apology after facing backlash over imagery that critics said evoked the Ku Klux Klan and lynching. The company acknowledged that the ad was deeply upsetting.
The Instagram photo featured K-pop singer Karina wearing a skirt and holding a pair of Chuck 70 X sneakers. Critics online claimed that lighting on the skirt created a white triangular image resembling a KKK hood and that the way the sneakers were held resembled the dangling feet of a lynching victim.
Following the controversy, the head of Converse promised to review internal processes. He informed employees that he will make any necessary changes to the company's procedures.