Story perspectives

Converse Withdraws Chuck 70 X Ad After KKK Backlash

By Drooid · Sep 20, 2026, 10:14 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Converse Withdraws Ad

Converse apologized to Footwear News and withdrew the Chuck 70 X ad after criticism linking it to KKK imagery.
The ad featured K-pop star Karina in a white skirt holding black Chuck 70 X sneakers beneath a pointed white fabric.
Social-media users said the lighting resembled a KKK hood and the dangling shoes evoked a lynching.
Civil-rights lawyer Lee Merritt and Congressman Troy Carter publicly condemned the campaign as racist and reckless.

Summary

Nike Shares Plummet

Nike shares fell to $35.51, near a 12-year low amid the ad controversy.
Nike was removed from the S&P 100 index, reflecting broader market pressures.
Slowing sales in China and heightened competition from rival sneaker makers pressure Nike’s growth.
Analysts warn the controversy could damage Converse’s global image and jeopardize future K-pop collaborations.

History

Historical Context

February 1915 saw D.W. Griffith release *The Birth of a Nation*, a technically innovative film that praised the Ku Klux Klan and provoked a NAACP boycott. A 2021 analysis recorded screenings in 606 counties and a fivefold rise in lynchings afterward, illustrating the power of racist imagery. In 2024, lawyer Lee Merritt and Rep. Troy Carter denounced a Converse-Nike ad for echoing that symbolism.

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Converse Withdraws Ad

Converse apologized to Footwear News and withdrew the Chuck 70 X ad after criticism linking it to KKK imagery.
The ad featured K-pop star Karina in a white skirt holding black Chuck 70 X sneakers beneath a pointed white fabric.
Social-media users said the lighting resembled a KKK hood and the dangling shoes evoked a lynching.
Civil-rights lawyer Lee Merritt and Congressman Troy Carter publicly condemned the campaign as racist and reckless.

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