Converse Pulls Controversial Ad Evoking Ku Klux Klan

American footwear brand Converse has pulled an ad from its channels that, according to users, evoked imagery of the Ku Klux Klan. The company acknowledged the mistake and apologized, stating that the photo is part of the Chuck 70 X campaign, launched on August 27.

how the campaign sparked controversy

The ad, published on Converse's Instagram, showed model Karina, leader of the South Korean group Aespa, wearing a white skirt and holding a pair of black sneakers. The lighting formed a white triangle over her clothing, resembling a pointy hood associated with white supremacists. Users pointed out that the shadow and pose resembled a lynching victim.

brand reaction and apology

Converse removed the photo from its social media channels and stated that it is working to remove the image from other platforms. In a statement, the company said: "We apologize. We understand why this image is deeply disturbing and recognize that we got it wrong. We have removed it from our channels and are working to remove it everywhere it has appeared. This should not have happened and we will do better."

who is in the campaign

The promotional campaign for the Chuck 70 X featured Karina, who has 22.6 million followers on Instagram. The singer, who is also a rapper and dancer, leads the group Aespa, formed in 2020 by SM Entertainment.

impact on the brand

The ad was pulled shortly after the criticism, and Converse acknowledged that the image was "deeply disturbing." The brand stated that the mistake should not have happened and that it will do better in the future.

With information from BBC, Clube de Criação, VEJA.