Converse Issues Apology Over Controversial Ad Resembling KKK Imagery

WHO:

Fox News - Congressman Troy Carter's office stated that an apology and the removal of the images are not enough and called for an independent investigation into how the campaign was conceived and approved.

NY Post - Converse, a sneaker brand owned by Nike, issued an apology.

Yahoo - Karina, a member of the girl group Aespa, featured in the controversial ad campaign.

Yahoo - Louisiana Congressman Troy Carter condemned the brand for the imagery used in the ads.

WHAT:

Yahoo - The ad campaign included an image shared on the Converse Malaysia Instagram account that featured two models climbing a wooden ladder to reach sneakers hanging from a tree branch, which was criticized for its symbolism.

Yahoo - The second image from a separate Converse campaign, released on September 14, showed a person standing on a ladder with sneakers hanging from a tree branch, which was criticized for its symbolism.

Fox News - Converse faced backlash over an ad which critics claimed resembled a KKK hood.

Fox News - Converse is a subsidiary of Nike, which has faced backlash from conservative critics over the past few years.

Currently.com - The controversial image was posted to Converse's social media accounts earlier this month, and the backlash intensified after social media users circulated an uncropped version of the advertisement, which they said made the resemblance to a pointed hood and hanging body more apparent.

Yahoo - A user on social media stated, "Even if it wasn't Converse's intentions, whoever decided that it was a good idea to post this ad in this political climate, you are a dumbass and you deserve to lose your job."

Fox News - Carter's office requested that Converse disclose the process used to approve the campaign and establish safeguards against similar incidents in the future.

Yahoo - A user on Threads described the combination of the two campaigns as "doubling down on the symbolism," highlighting the problematic nature of the imagery.

Fox News - A spokesperson for Congressman Troy Carter stated that an apology and the removal of the images are not enough, demanding an independent investigation into how the campaign was conceived and approved.

Fox News - Converse's apology included a commitment to "do better" and to establish safeguards to ensure that imagery invoking the Klan and the lynching of Black people is never approved again.

Yahoo - The ad campaign featured a star-shaped spotlight that created a silhouette resembling a KKK hood, which was highlighted by social media users.

Yahoo - A user on social media stated, "No, you're not crazy. Yes, the Converse ad is racist … 'It's just a shoe ad is not a defense.'"

Yahoo - Another image from a separate Converse campaign, released on September 14, showed two models climbing a wooden ladder to reach sneakers hanging from a tree branch, which was criticized for its symbolism.

Yahoo - Congressman Troy Carter emphasized that the imagery is a painful reminder of racial violence and should not be used for marketing, stating, "The white hood is not some harmless costume. It is a symbol of terror, murder and generations of racial violence."

Currently.com - The Chuck 70 X sneaker was released globally on August 27.

Yahoo - The controversial image was posted to Converse's social media accounts earlier this month.

Yahoo - An uncropped version of the advertisement circulated on social media, which intensified the backlash.

NY Post - Converse pulled a pair of ads after receiving backlash for promoting imagery that evoked the Ku Klux Klan.

Yahoo - The ad campaign promoted the Chuck 70 X and Run Star Crush sneakers.

Yahoo - Converse issued a statement apologizing for the "deeply upsetting" imagery and recognized that they "got this wrong."

Yahoo - The brand stated, "We removed it from our channels and are working to remove it everywhere it appeared."

WHERE:

Yahoo - The controversial imagery was shared on the Converse Malaysia Instagram account.

WHEN:

Yahoo - The ad campaign went viral recently, leading to widespread backlash.

WHY:

Fox News - Carter's office requested that Converse disclose the process used to approve the campaign and establish safeguards against similar incidents in the future.

Fox News - Congressman Troy Carter emphasized that the brand must explain how the campaign was conceived and identify those responsible for the imagery.

Fox News - Carter's office stated that an apology and the removal of the images are not enough, demanding an independent investigation into how the campaign was conceived and approved.

Fox News - Congressman Troy Carter emphasized that the brand must explain how the campaign was conceived and identify those responsible for the imagery.

Yahoo - Critics accused the ad of evoking racist imagery, including a silhouette resembling a KKK hood and imagery associated with lynching.

Yahoo - Congressman Troy Carter emphasized that the imagery is a painful reminder of racial violence and should not be used for marketing.

HOW:

Yahoo - Longtime fans of the brand have taken to social media to show themselves burning their sneakers and emphasizing that impact matters more than intent.

Yahoo - Social media users expressed their outrage, with some burning their Converse sneakers in protest.

Fox News - Carter's office requested that Converse disclose the process used to approve the campaign and establish safeguards against similar incidents in the future.

Yahoo - Chicago-based photographer Stephanie Schwartz criticized the campaign, stating, "whoever did this ad knew EXACTLY what they were doing."

Yahoo - Actress Yvette Nicole Brown reacted to the campaign, asking, "That's a lynching, yes?"

Yahoo - The second image from a separate Converse campaign, released on September 14, featured a person standing on a ladder with sneakers hanging from a tree branch, which was criticized for its symbolism.

Yahoo - Social media users interpreted the spotlight in the ad as creating an outline resembling a KKK hood and criticized the way Karina held the shoes as reminiscent of lynching imagery.

Yahoo - Users on social media expressed their outrage, with some burning their Converse sneakers in protest.

(UPDATED September 21, 2026 07:16 UTC)

Converse is facing significant backlash over an ad campaign that critics claim resembles a KKK hood, prompting Congressman Troy Carter to request an explanation of the approval process for the campaign and safeguards against similar incidents in the future. The controversy intensified with two images featuring models on ladders reaching for sneakers hanging from tree branches, which many found troubling due to their symbolism. In response, longtime fans of the brand have taken to social media, sharing videos of themselves burning their sneakers to emphasize that impact matters more than intent.

(UPDATED September 21, 2026 02:09 UTC)

Converse is facing significant backlash after a controversial advertisement was posted on their social media accounts, with critics arguing that an uncropped version of the image highlights a disturbing resemblance to a pointed hood and a hanging body. In response, Carter's office has called for an independent investigation into the approval process for the campaign, stating that simply apologizing and removing the images is insufficient. Meanwhile, social media users have expressed their outrage by burning their Converse sneakers in protest.

(UPDATED September 21, 2026 01:24 UTC)

A recent ad campaign by Converse Malaysia has sparked controversy due to an image depicting two models climbing a wooden ladder to reach sneakers hanging from a tree branch, which many have criticized for its symbolism. A user on Threads noted that this combination of imagery seems to be "doubling down on the symbolism," emphasizing the problematic nature of the visuals. In response, a spokesperson for Congressman Troy Carter has called for more than just an apology and the removal of the images, insisting on an independent investigation into the campaign's conception and approval process.

(UPDATED September 20, 2026 22:57 UTC)

Congressman Troy Carter's office is calling for an independent investigation into the campaign that featured offensive imagery, stating that an apology and the removal of the images are not sufficient. Converse has apologized and committed to doing better, promising to implement safeguards to prevent any imagery that invokes the Klan and the lynching of Black people from being approved again. Carter emphasized the need for Converse to explain how the campaign was conceived and to disclose the approval process to ensure accountability and prevent similar incidents in the future.

(UPDATED September 20, 2026 21:56 UTC)

A recent Converse ad campaign has sparked significant backlash after featuring a star-shaped spotlight that created a silhouette resembling a KKK hood, prompting social media users to call it racist. Congressman Troy Carter condemned the imagery as a painful reminder of racial violence, asserting that "the white hood is not some harmless costume" but rather a symbol of terror and murder. Criticism also came from photographer Stephanie Schwartz, who stated that the creators of the ad "knew EXACTLY what they were doing," and actress Yvette Nicole Brown questioned the implications of the imagery by asking, "That's a lynching, yes?"

(UPDATED September 20, 2026 10:56 UTC)

The Chuck 70 X sneaker was released globally on August 27, and it has sparked controversy following an image posted to Converse's social media accounts earlier this month. An uncropped version of that advertisement circulated online, which intensified the backlash against the brand. Additionally, a separate Converse campaign released on September 14 featured a person standing on a ladder with sneakers hanging from a tree branch, drawing criticism for its symbolism.

(UPDATED September 20, 2026 07:56 UTC)

Converse, a sneaker brand owned by Nike, has issued an apology after pulling a pair of ads that faced backlash for promoting imagery reminiscent of the Ku Klux Klan. The controversial campaign, which featured Karina from the girl group Aespa, was shared on the Converse Malaysia Instagram account and sparked outrage among critics, including Louisiana Congressman Troy Carter, who condemned the use of such painful imagery for marketing. In their statement, Converse acknowledged they "got this wrong," and confirmed they are working to remove the ads from all channels after recognizing the deeply upsetting nature of the content.