In September 2026, footwear brand Converse published an advertisement that online critics argued featured imagery reminiscent of the Ku Klux Klan and historical lynchings.
In September 2026, a controversy emerged online regarding a promotional campaign by footwear manufacturer Converse. Many social media users pointed out that an ad released by the company inadvertently created disturbing visual associations.
The controversial advertisement featured the lower half of an individual dressed in white while holding a pair of Converse sneakers. Due to the specific lighting, shadows, and composition, the visual produced an unintentional optical illusion that struck viewers as resembling a Ku Klux Klan hood alongside the silhouette of a hanging figure.
The backlash spread rapidly across multiple platforms, with heavy discussion taking place on Threads, X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, Facebook, and Instagram, where users expressed shock, dismay, and confusion over the design.
Inquiries quickly poured in from readers asking whether the commercial was genuine or if Nike (which owns Converse) had truly approved a campaign bearing such alarming visual similarities to racial violence.
Investigations confirmed that Converse did indeed publish the visual asset as part of a promotional campaign featuring Karina, a member of the K-pop group Aespa, to highlight the “Chuck 70 X” footwear line. Consequently, the claim is verified as true.
While Converse did not immediately field initial requests regarding its internal review and approval procedures, or whether the campaign would be entirely withdrawn, a company representative later issued a formal apology via email:
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.
Footwear News, an established publication within the fashion industry, was among the first to report on the brand’s official statement.
Although the post was scrubbed from Converse’s primary social media grids, direct links embedded in earlier posts still displayed the image temporarily, indicating the company had likely archived rather than permanently deleted the content from backend platforms.
(Converse on Threads)
Historical web archives, such as the Wayback Machine, verified that the image had previously been featured prominently on the U.S. Converse website in late August. It has since been swapped out for a different asset showing Karina wearing a white skirt—the same garment visible in the controversial promotional shot.
An August web version of the Converse page promoting the Karina collaboration, prior to the image swap. (Converse/Wayback Machine)
Questions Regarding the Campaign’s Origin
Amid the online debate, several commentators speculated that the campaign might have been conceptualized and approved outside the United States—specifically pointing to Malaysia—suggesting that the creative team may have lacked the cultural and historical awareness necessary to recognize how the imagery would be interpreted by American audiences in the context of white supremacy and anti-Black violence.
Although screenshots circulated online suggesting the image may have first appeared on regional social media channels like Converse Malaysia, independent verification of the internal creative team’s location was not made publicly available by the company. Furthermore, the image was absent from official Malaysian channels, and local product searches yielded error pages.
Additionally, online users flagged a separate Converse advertisement depicting a person positioned on a ladder while holding sneakers, which some also argued evoked troubling visual themes.
While that second image was also authentic—remaining active on Converse Chile’s regional accounts—it originated from an entirely separate marketing initiative shot in Italy, according to statements from Palmes, a partner menswear brand involved in that specific project.