BOSTON — Converse removed a social media advertisement featuring K-pop singer Karina after critics said it evoked Ku Klux Klan and lynching imagery. The Boston-based company, which is owned by Nike, issued a statement apologizing for the advertisement.

The advertisement showed Karina wearing a skirt and holding a pair of Chuck 70 X sneakers under a spotlight that created a white triangular shape on the fabric. Critics stated the white triangular lighting on Karina's skirt resembled a Ku Klux Klan hood. Critics also stated Karina's pose holding the dangling sneakers resembled the feet of a lynching victim.

"We’re sorry. We understand why this image is deeply upsetting and recognize that we got 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." Converse said in its statement.

The company declined to answer questions regarding its ad screening and approval processes. Lee Merritt, a civil rights attorney based in Texas, criticized Converse's response on Instagram. "We keep having this conversation because corporations keep failing the same test. Do better means catching this before it airs — not after we’re offended," Merritt said.

Representative Troy Carter demanded answers regarding the approval process for the Converse campaign. "Who created this campaign? Who approved it? How many executives saw it? Were there any Black people in the room? If so, did anyone listen to them?" Carter asked.

He added that the public deserves transparency about the incident. "You do not get to quietly pull the images, issue a polished apology and move on. You do not get a do-over. The public deserves to know how this happened, who was responsible and what you intend to do about it," Carter said.

Karina is a member of the K-pop group Aespa and is managed by SM Entertainment Group. The Chuck 70 X sneaker, featured in the controversial ad, was launched globally on August 27, 2026, as part of a campaign titled “Stars Align With KARINA.” The Converse Malaysia Instagram account initially posted the controversial ad featuring Karina.

Converse posted a separate advertisement on its Malaysia Instagram account showing a person scaling a ladder toward sneakers hanging from a tree branch. The second advertisement promoted a collaboration with the brand Palmes for the Jack Purcell PDM sneaker collection. Fitness content creator Kida Maree posted both advertisements side by side on social media.

Why It Matters

The removal of the advertisement shows ongoing scrutiny of corporate marketing practices and their potential to evoke painful historical imagery. The incident has prompted demands from civil rights leaders and elected officials for greater accountability and transparency in the approval processes used by major brands.

The controversy also raises questions about cultural context in global advertising campaigns, particularly when content created for international markets reaches U.S. audiences. The simultaneous emergence of a second ad featuring similar visual motifs has intensified calls for companies to implement more rigorous review systems before releasing promotional materials.

What's New

Karina is a member of the K-pop group Aespa. The Converse Malaysia Instagram account initially posted the controversial ad featuring Karina, raising questions about whether the creative team lacked cultural context for U.S. audiences.

A separate Converse ad featuring a man on a ladder holding sneakers overhead, which some users compared to lynching imagery, was part of a collaboration with Danish brand Palmes. Converse had previously faced backlash for an ad campaign in 2021 that was criticized for its lack of diversity in its marketing materials, though not for racial symbolism.

"That’s a lynching, yes?" Actress Yvette Nicole Brown commented on the advertisement on Threads. "Who created this campaign? Who approved it? How many executives saw it? Were there any Black people in the room? If so, did anyone listen to them?" Representative Troy Carter asked.