Converse removes a social media sneaker advertisement after critics say its imagery evoked Ku Klux Klan symbols and referenced a lynching victim. Multiple outlets report the company issued an apology and took the ad down following online backlash.

The ad is described as promoting the Chuck 70 X shoe and appearing on platforms such as Instagram. Sky News and other outlets say Converse acknowledges that the image is “deeply upsetting,” while U.S. coverage notes the company recognised the concerns raised by critics.

Outlets also differ slightly on emphasis. Fox News and several others focus on the specific comparisons being made—KKK hood imagery and lynching—while the Jerusalem Post adds that civil rights attorney Lee Merritt criticised the company’s apology, arguing it does not undo internal decisions made by those involved in legal, marketing, and management. Overall reporting agrees the controversy leads directly to removal and an apology, but opinions vary on whether the response is sufficient.