Converse has pulled ads and apologized after critics said campaign imagery evoked Ku Klux Klan and lynching symbolism, the New York Post’s Daniel Farr reported September 19, 2026.

The firestorm centered on a campaign featuring aespa singer Karina shown clutching black high-top sneakers beneath a sharply defined, star-shaped spotlight while wearing a calf-length white skirt. Online critics said the resulting silhouette resembled a Klan hood and that Karina’s pose with the shoes called lynching imagery to mind, the Post reported — matching accounts from the Los Angeles Times, Adweek, Snopes, and Women’s Wear Daily / Footwear News.

What Converse said

Converse told Footwear News / WWD, in a statement widely republished: “We’re sorry. We understand why this image is deeply upsetting and recognize that we got this wrong.” The brand said it removed the image from its own channels and was working to scrub it everywhere it appeared, adding: “This should not have happened and we will do better.”

The Post dated the apology coverage to the evening of September 19; LA Times, Adweek, and Snopes tracked the same scrub-and-apology language on September 18 as the backlash spread across Threads, Instagram, and X.

A second ad and congressional pushback

A separate ad on Converse’s Malaysia Instagram account showed a person scaling a ladder toward sneakers hanging from a tree branch, the Post reported. According to Women’s Wear Daily via People, that image promoted Converse’s collaboration with Danish brand Palmes for the Jack Purcell PDM sneaker collection — a different campaign from the Karina Chuck creative, Adweek and Snopes also noted.

Democratic Rep. Troy Carter of Louisiana demanded accountability over who created and approved the Karina 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?” he asked, per the Post. Carter said quietly pulling the images and issuing a polished apology was not enough: “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.”

Nike parent context

The blowback lands on Converse parent Nike amid a rough stretch in the markets, the Post reported: Nike shares fell to about $35.51, nearing a 12-year low, as the company faces slowing China sales, rival pressure, and complaints about innovation — and Nike was recently removed from the S&P 100 index, according to that Post account. Those figures are attributed to the Post’s reporting, not independently audited here.

An apology statement is easy. Naming who greenlit the frame — and whether anyone in the room flagged the history — is the part brands usually skip.

Sources