Converse has removed a promotional photo from its latest global campaign after the image drew widespread online criticism. The Nike-owned sneaker brand issued an apology over the weekend and said it was working to remove the photo from every platform where it appeared. The episode unfolded quickly on social media and has drawn attention to how advertising images can be interpreted in unexpected ways.
The photograph was created for the Chuck 70 X, a refined update of Converse’s classic high-top sneaker. The campaign launched internationally on August 27th, 2026, and centres on the theme “Stars Align With KARINA.” It features Karina, a member of the South Korean K-pop group aespa, who was named a Converse global ambassador in June. The star motif that appears throughout the ads directly references the brand’s longtime logo.
In the image that caused the strongest reaction, Karina stands inside a large star-shaped spotlight while wearing a calf-length white skirt. She holds a pair of black high-top sneakers at her side, letting them hang downward. The lighting on the white fabric produced a pointed triangular shape. Many people who saw the photo said the overall composition created an unintended visual that reminded them of painful historical images tied to racial injustice in the United States. An uncropped version of the same photograph that later circulated made the silhouette even more noticeable to some viewers.
The picture first appeared on Converse’s social media accounts earlier in September, including Instagram and Threads. Within days, it began spreading across X, Instagram, Threads, and TikTok. Commenters focused on the lighting, the shape created on the skirt, and the position of the dangling shoes. Some described the photo as poorly considered; others said it showed a lack of awareness during the review process. The conversation grew when people placed the Karina image next to a second promotional photograph.
That second image came from a separate Converse collaboration with the Copenhagen-based lifestyle brand Palmes. Posted on the company’s Malaysia Instagram account around September 14, it showed a person climbing a ladder toward a pair of sneakers hanging from a tree branch. The Jack Purcell PDM collection was the product being advertised. When the two pictures appeared side by side in social media posts, the combined discussion intensified.
Converse responded with a statement first reported by fashion industry outlets.
“We’re sorry. We understand why this image is deeply upsetting and recognise that we got this wrong,” the company said. “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 brand, based in Boston and owned by Nike since 2003, has not released additional details about who created or approved the photograph. Karina and her management company, SM Entertainment, have not issued public comments.
Converse itself has a long history. Founded in Massachusetts in the early 1900s, the company became widely known after introducing the Chuck Taylor All Star sneaker to basketball courts in 1917. The Chuck 70 line is a modern, higher-quality take on that original design. The current campaign otherwise presents Karina in a series of stylish, brightly lit shots that highlight the new sneakers without the same visual issues. Those other images remain in use.
Converse’s decision to pull the photograph and issue a direct apology reflects an effort to address the concerns that were raised. The company has said it will work to avoid similar problems in the future.
