Converse is apologizing after a new advertisement featuring K-pop singer Karina sparked criticism because many viewers said its imagery resembled a Ku Klux Klan hood and a lynching scene. The brand released campaign photos showing the idol in a white skirt beneath a star-shaped spotlight, with shadows falling across her body in a way that some interpreted as a hooded figure. In one image, Karina holds a pair of sneakers with her arm partially obscured by shadows, which made the shoes appear to some viewers like the dangling feet of a hanging person.
The company acknowledged that the image was deeply upsetting and said it had removed it from its channels, according to Primetimer. Converse stated in a message to news outlets that it understood why people found the image upsetting and admitted it had made an error. TMZ reported that there is no indication Converse intended to reference the KKK or lynching.
The ad campaign was part of a global release of the Chuck 70 X sneaker in August and featured Karina from the girl group aespa. The campaign was called “Stars Align With KARINA” and used Converse’s five-pointed star as a visual theme. Some social media users also resurfaced an image from a separate Converse collaboration with Copenhagen brand Palmes that showed a man on a ladder near sneakers hanging from a tree, which they said added to the controversy.
Calls for a boycott of Converse have appeared online, with some linking the imagery to recent incidents involving Black individuals found hanging from trees. The controversy comes amid broader concerns about how brands use visual elements in advertising and the cultural impact of their choices.
Converse is a subsidiary of Nike and has faced scrutiny for its handling of the campaign, especially after the images circulated widely on platforms like X. The company said it was working to remove all versions of the ad from where they appeared online.
The Washington Post reported that a cropped version of the image appeared online, while an uncropped version circulating elsewhere made the resemblance to a hood and hanging more striking. A statement from Converse confirmed that it understood why the image was deeply upsetting and said the company “got this wrong.” The brand emphasized that the image should not have appeared and said it would do better.
This incident highlights how visual elements in advertising can carry powerful cultural associations and spark strong reactions across different communities.
IMAGE: Karina X Sprite @ Waterbomb Seoul 2025 by: snow plumflower CC4
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