Converse has removed an advertisement for its Chuck 70 X sneaker following widespread criticism that the image evoked Ku Klux Klan imagery. The footwear and apparel company took down the campaign after social media users highlighted concerns about the advertisement’s visuals, which some interpreted as racially insensitive.

The contentious image, part of a global promotion launched in late August, showed the lower half of a figure clad in a white garment holding a pair of black sneakers. Critics pointed to the lighting and shadows, which created the impression that the shoes were suspended in the air as if by hanging, and that the garment’s shape resembled the pointed hood traditionally associated with Klan robes. These elements led many to draw parallels with lynching imagery, a painful symbol related to America’s history of racial violence.

“As a Black man and someone who loves Converse shoes, I find this very insensitive and distasteful,” said Kendall Peacock, who runs the Education Firm, a tutoring and mentorship program in Atlanta. While he acknowledged that deliberate racist intent has not been established, Peacock emphasized that this does not diminish the image’s harmful impact. Stephanie Schwartz, a social justice photographer, also weighed in, stating on social media that those responsible for the advertisement must have been aware of the implications of the design.

Converse issued an apology on Saturday, acknowledging the offense caused by the image. “We understand why this image is deeply upsetting and recognize that we got this wrong,” the company said in an emailed statement. The firm confirmed it had removed the advertisement from all platforms and was working to ensure it was taken down wherever it appeared. Converse pledged to improve its review processes to prevent similar mistakes going forward.

The ad under scrutiny was part of a campaign promoting the Chuck 70 X sneaker, named after Chuck Taylor, a former basketball player. The campaign included a collaboration with Karina, a member of the K-pop group aespa, who was announced in June as a global ambassador for Converse. Representatives for Karina did not immediately comment on the controversy.

Converse, which has been producing sneakers since 1917 and introduced one of the first mass-produced basketball shoes, has not disclosed who specifically designed or approved the advertisement. The company declined to provide further comment beyond its initial apology.