Converse issued an apology and removed an advertisement featuring K-pop star Karina that critics said evoked Ku Klux Klan and lynching imagery. The ad showed Karina wearing a white skirt with shoes beside her, which some viewers found offensive due to the lighting on her skirt resembling a pointed hood and the positioning of the shoes suggesting hanging feet. Civil rights attorney Lee Merritt criticized Converse for not catching these issues before publication. The controversy follows another recent advertisement that also faced backlash from critics who saw Klan symbolism in its imagery.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-19,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Converse, an American footwear brand owned by Nike, pulled an advertisement from its Instagram account after social media users accused it of evoking Ku Klux Klan imagery. The ad featured K-pop singer Karina holding a pair of black high-top sneakers under a star-shaped spotlight while wearing a long white skirt, which critics said resembled a KKK hood and the dangling feet of a lynching victim. Converse issued an apology on August 27, stating, "This should not have happened and we will do better." The company removed the image from its channels and is working to remove it from other platforms where it appeared. CEO Aaron Cain promised to review internal processes and make necessary changes in a memo to employees seen by Bloomberg News.
Written for “Converse Ad Controversy” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 10 other(s) covering the same event.
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Converse issued a groveling apology after critics accused the shoe company's latest ad campaign of invoking Ku Klux Klan and lynching imagery.
asserted
critics → see → Klan
The brand, which is owned by Nike, pulled its promotional campaign for its Chuck 70 X trainer after the backlash, admitting: 'This should not have happened and we will do better.'
The ad showed K-pop star Karina wearing a white skirt holding a pair of the Converse shoes by her side, which some likened to an image of a lynching victim's feet hanging in the air.
asserted
some → own → air
The lighting on the artist's skirt was also criticized for resembling a white pointed hood.
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lighting → criticize → hood
In an apology on Friday, the company said: 'We’re sorry.
asserted
We → say → Friday
We understand why this image is deeply upsetting and recognize that we got this wrong.
asserted
this → understand → ?
'We removed it from our channels and are working to remove it everywhere it appeared.'
The apology came after the ad triggered a wave of criticism at the company, with civil rights attorney Lee Merritt writing on X: 'An apology doesn't undo what got past legal, marketing and leadership at every step.
asserted
what → remove → step
'Do better means catching this before it airs, not after we're offended.'
asserted
we → mean → this
Converse issued a groveling apology after critics accused the shoe company's latest advert of invoking Ku Klux Klan and lynching imagery
The apology came after the advert triggered a wave of criticism at the company, with civil rights attorney Lee Merritt writing on X that he was deeply offended
While some online felt that the criticisms went too far and argued Converse was not intentional in the alleged imagery, others questioned how the ad made it through to being published.
'
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ad → issue → it
So Nike and Converse, y'all are serious with this ad?' one person questioned on X.
'
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person → question → X.
Like this imagery was cool and made it through all levels of the company and everyone said "yes"?
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everyone → make → company
'
'I will never wear this brand, that I have been loyal to for over 20 years, EVER again,' added another.
asserted
I → wear → years
The controversial ad came just weeks after Converse was also slated by some for its promotional campaign for its Converse x Palmes ads.
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Converse → come → ads
The ads, for the Jack Purcell PDM sneaker collection released earlier this month, showed a man climbing up a ladder while holding a pair of sneakers hanging from a tree.
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man → release → tree
But the tree, ladder, and person in the distance looking up while holding up Converse shoes,' wrote one critic on Threads.
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critic → look → Threads
The Daily Mail has contacted Converse for further comment.
asserted
Mail → contact → comment
The controversial advert came just weeks after Converse was also slated by some for its promotional campaign for its Jack Purcell PDM sneaker collection released earlier this month, which showed a man climbing up a ladder while holding a pair of sneakers hanging from a tree
The controversy comes after Converse previously faced backlash for the release of its special edition sneakers with singer Charli XCX, which were slammed for their 'poor design.'
asserted
which → come → design
The sneaker line, released in September 2025, was billed as a limited-edition, classic high-top shoe available in five colors, and only on sale for three days.
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line → release → days
In the advertisement for the collaboration, Charli posed in sneakers of various colors, which had the same distressed and stained look, complete with rips on the side of them.
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which → pose → them
They also had a small carabiner on the back with a small lock.
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They → have → lock
In the caption, she branded them the perfect 'party girl' shoe.
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she → brand → them
However, fans who snapped up the sneakers, which have since sold out, are not convinced that the sneakers are the party girl footwear she had in mind – especially as the rips were printed on, and not actually torn.
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rips → snap → mind
Responding to fans who called her out for the choice to print the tears, rather than physically having them on the shoe, Charli wrote a comment: 'Rip them yourself babes I'm not doing everything for you.'
asserted
I → respond → you
The Aporia
