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Converse pulls ad over KKK imagery
The gist
Converse apologized and pulled a Karina ad after critics likened its imagery to the KKK.
The dispute centers on how a global campaign's photo passed internal review.
How it unfolded
- Aug 27, 2026The campaign promoting the Chuck 70 X trainer, featuring Karina of Aespa, launched internationally.
- date unknownThe disputed photo, posted to Converse's Instagram account, drew backlash after critics described lighting in the image as looking like a white pointed hood and likened dangling shoes to a lynching victim.
- Sep 18, 2026Converse issued an apology, saying the photo had been removed from its social media channels and it was working to remove it elsewhere.