Converse withdraws advertisement after Ku Klux Klan comparison

Converse has faced backlash this week after sharing an image from an advertising campaign.

The image features a K-pop star as the face of the campaign, showcasing the new Chuck 70 X and Run Star Crush shoes.

However, fans believe the lighting on the star's skirt creates a white triangular shape resembling a Ku Klux Klan hood, a racist organization in the United States known for violence and hatred against Black people and other minorities.

Additionally, fans claim the scene appears reminiscent of lynching, a violent act where a mob kills someone without legal proceedings, often used in a historical context against Black individuals in the United States.

On Friday, Converse issued a public statement apologizing for sharing the image, according to a report.

"We understand why this image is deeply upsetting and acknowledge that we were wrong."

They further stated that they have removed the image from their channels and are working to eliminate it from other locations.

"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."

Converse was founded in Massachusetts in the early 1900s and gained popularity after Chuck Taylor shoes appeared on American basketball courts in 1917. Converse has been owned by Nike since 2003.

A congress member criticized the advertisement, stating it should never have been created and labeled it as racist.

"The white hood is not a harmless costume. It is a symbol of terror, murder, and generations of racial violence," he remarked in a statement.

He argued that removing the image and issuing an apology is not enough.

"The public deserves to know how this happened, who was responsible, and what you plan to do about it," he stated.

Converse fans have also expressed their anger on social media. According to reports, several have shared videos of themselves burning their Converse shoes, emphasizing that the impact of the advertisement is more important than the company's intentions. E24 reported the story.