Converse has withdrawn an advertisement after facing widespread criticism on social media over imagery that users said evoked Ku Klux Klan symbolism and a lynching.
The image, published on the footwear company’s Instagram page, drew criticism over its lighting, with some viewers saying it appeared to resemble the white pointed hood associated with the Ku Klux Klan.
Other social media users compared the suspended shoes in the photograph with imagery depicting a lynching victim.
In a statement issued on Friday, Converse apologised for the advert and confirmed that the image had been removed from its social media accounts.
The company said it was also taking steps to have the image removed from other platforms.
Converse said it understood why the photograph had caused offence and acknowledged that it should not have been published.
The image was created as part of a promotional campaign for the Chuck 70 X trainer, which was launched internationally on August 27.
South Korean singer Karina, a member of K-pop group Aespa, features in the campaign, appearing in a series of promotional photographs showcasing the footwear.
Converse was established in Massachusetts in the early 1900s and became widely associated with basketball after its Chuck Taylor sneaker was introduced to US courts in 1917.
Nike has owned Converse since 2003, with the footwear company operating as a subsidiary of the global sportswear giant.
Goodness Anunobi
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