Converse, the Nike-owned shoe brand, has withdrawn a television and social‑media advertisement that sparked a wave of criticism nationwide. The ad, part of a campaign for the Chuck 70 X sneaker created with K‑pop star Karina of Aespa, displayed the lower half of a person in a white, calf‑length garment that many viewers said looked like a Ku Klux Klan robe. The figure held black sneakers, and lighting effects made the shoes appear to hang, while shadows on the white fabric formed a triangular shape reminiscent of a Klan hood.

Company response

In a statement to ABC News, Converse said, “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.” The brand emphasized its commitment to preventing similar missteps in future campaigns.

Public reaction

Social‑media users quickly flagged the ad, describing the visual as evoking the imagery of Black lynchings by the white supremacist group. Critics argued that the combination of the white garment and the hanging‑like presentation of the black sneakers was insensitive and offensive.

Background of the campaign

The ad was part of a collaboration between Converse and Karina, a member of the popular K‑pop group Aespa, to promote a limited‑edition version of the Chuck 70 sneaker. While the partnership aimed to blend music and fashion, the visual execution drew unintended controversy.

Next steps

Converse has not provided further details on how it will revise its creative review process. The company and Nike did not respond to additional requests for comment outside regular business hours. Karina was not immediately reachable for comment.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.