Converse forced to remove ad over racist allegations

(Image credit: Converse) Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Converse has been forced to remove an ad after receiving heated criticism online, with…

(Image credit: Converse) Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Converse has been forced to remove an ad after receiving heated criticism online, with claims that the design evoked extreme racist imagery. While harmless in theory, the misplaced lighting and composition were enough to spark outrage among critics who called the advert "disgusting" and "abhorrent".In keeping with the best adverts, Converse clearly aimed for a stylised, editorial look for the new campaign. Unfortunately, the resulting design was painfully miscalculated, sparking cries for boycotts and all-out cancellation. (Image credit: Converse)The advert in question stars K-Pop artist Karina holding a pair of Converse Chuck 70 X trainers. Lighting on her white skirt makes a sharp triangular shape thanks to a projection of the Chuck Taylor star logo, which critics claimed resembled hoods worn by the KKK.Latest Videos FromCreative BloqWatch full video here: To make matters worse, Karina's cut-off upper torso leaves the image slightly indistinct at a glance. The loose positioning of the shoes in her hand appeared to some like the dangling feet of a lynching victim, sparking internet-wide outrage.for those who don‘t see it https://t.co/DhyEoLqdaL pic.twitter.com/dhKpARPVBpSeptember 19, 2026"I cannot fathom why Converse would greenlight something so abhorrent. Lynchings of Black people in the US is NOT ancient history," one X user wrote. "'It’s just a shoe ad' is not a defence,' another added, while one critic wrote, "Even if the intent was unintentional, the tone deafness of the entire campaign is shocking."Converse soon removed the ad, issuing the following statement to PEOPLE: “We’re sorry. We understand why this image is deeply upsetting and recognise 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.” The imagery of Converse's new campaign is jarring, to say the least, and it bewilders me that this imagery wasn't spotted before the campaign launch. With controversies like Sydney Sweeney's jeans ad bringing this issue to the forefront of the advertising world, it seems brands should be hyper-vigilant to ensure campaigns avoid controversy.Get the Creative Bloq NewsletterSign up to Creative Bloq's daily newsletter, which brings you the latest news and inspiration from the worlds of art, design and technology. Natalie Fear Staff Writer Natalie Fear is Creative Bloq's staff writer. With an eye for trending topics and a passion for internet culture, she brings you the latest in art and design news. Natalie also runs Creative Bloq’s 5 Questions series, spotlighting diverse talent across the creative industries. Outside of work, she loves all things literature and music (although she’s partial to a spot of TikTok brain rot).  View More You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. Logout LATEST ARTICLES 1 Forget iPhone 18's Dark Cherry, these gorgeous cases let you play with seasonal colours in a less permanent way 2 Autodesk's own AI film has a continuity error nobody could prompt away 3 Forget Pixar: Laika is the animation house of the future 4 Affinity 3.3 shows that Canva is serious about taking on Adobe 5 See how this point-and-click game environment was made for The Mermaid Mask

Source: Creative Bloq AI Art — Published September 21, 2026 at 14:00 UTC — Category: Image AI