Converse apologizes and pulls sneaker ad that critics said included racist imagery

For context, the sneaker firm Converse has removed a social media ad that sparked outrage among critics who viewed it as evoking the Ku Klux Klan and lynching.

Key points

• The Instagram ad photo indicated K-pop singer Karina wearing a skirt and holding a pair of Chuck 70 X sneakers.
• Converse, owned by Nike, issued a statement apologizing and saying it removed the ad.
• "We're sorry, " remarked the statement, first issued on Friday.

What happened

Meanwhile, the Instagram ad photo indicated K-pop singer Karina wearing a skirt and holding a pair of Chuck 70 X sneakers. Critics lashed out online, saying that a white triangular image created by lighting on the skirt resembled a KKK hood and that the way she held the sneakers created them look like the dangling feet of a lynching victim.

"We're sorry, " remarked the statement, first issued on Friday. "We understand why this image is deeply upsetting and recognize that we obtained 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 bottom line

Taken together, the developments around converse apologizes and pulls sneaker ad that critics said included racist imagery point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.