An advertisement by Converse, famous for its 'Chuck Taylor All Star' line, caused great indignation on social media. Users accused the brand of racism, alleging that the image referenced the pointed hood of the extremist group Ku Klux Klan (KKK).
In the photograph in question, K-pop singer Karina appears wearing a white skirt and holding a pair of Chuck 70 X sneakers. However, one detail caught the attention of internet users and generated controversy: the white triangle formed by the lighting on the skirt and the way the artist held the footwear.
Online, several users linked this image to the white supremacist organization KKK, easily identifiable by its conical hood. Furthermore, Karina's posture while holding the sneakers was interpreted by some internet users as a reminder of the feet of a lynching victim next to a 'Klansman' (a member of the criminal group).
Online comments recorded resignations from involved employees and even calls for a boycott of the company. Some users questioned how such an advertisement could have been approved, while others defended the brand, arguing that the situation was not intentional.
Converse removes ad and apologizes
Converse, which is part of Nike, removed the advertisement from social media platforms and issued an apology for the image. In a statement, the company stated: 'We apologize. We understand why the image is deeply disturbing and we recognize that we made a mistake. We have removed the image from our channels and are working to remove it from everywhere it appeared. This should not have happened, and we will do better.'
It is worth noting that the KKK constitutes an American white supremacist movement, established after the American Civil War, and is linked to extreme violence and racial terror, particularly against the Black population.