Target Pulls Children's Costume Over Racist Imagery Concerns
Target pulled a children's costume over racist imagery concerns, continuing broader corporate accountability patterns.
Event / Politics
Converse Racially Insensitive Advertising
Nike-owned Converse removed an Instagram advertisement featuring K-pop singer Karina after criticism for imagery evoking racist KKK and lynching symbolism. The company apologized and removed content across channels. A second controversial image with hanging sneakers also drew backlash. Civil rights attorney Lee Merritt and U.S. Representative Troy Carter criticized the response as insufficient, noting such imagery should have been caught during corporate review.
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2026-09-22 to 2026-11-03 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 22 Sept, 02:57 UTC
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What happened
Target removes children's Halloween costume over racist imagery concerns
Discount retailer Target pulled a children's Halloween costume from shelves following widespread social media backlash. Critics said the garment evoked racist minstrel caricatures. Target acknowledged the costume was inappropriate and removed it from sale, issuing a statement apologizing to Black guests, team members and partners.
Converse issues apology for advertisement containing controversial imagery
Converse released an apology statement for the advertisement, saying 'We're sorry. We understand why this image is deeply upsetting and recognize that we got this wrong. 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 company declined to answer additional questions about how the ad was screened before posting and how it was approved.
Converse posts second advertisement featuring models with hanging sneakers
Converse also posted a photograph showing two models climbing trees to retrieve sneakers hanging by their laces. This image drew additional criticism from online users who viewed it as evoking lynching-related imagery, compounding controversy surrounding the brand's advertising campaign.
U.S. Representative Troy Carter condemns Converse advertisement
Rep. Troy A. Carter (D-LA) issued an official statement condemning Converse, stating that the imagery of Black people hanging from trees is not ancient history and that the white hood is a symbol of terror, murder and racial violence. Carter emphasized that an advertising campaign does not appear by accident but is conceived, photographed, reviewed, approved and distributed, and that someone at each stage had responsibility to reject the content.
Civil rights attorney challenges Converse apology as insufficient
Lee Merritt, a civil rights attorney based in Texas, posted on Instagram that Converse's apology 'doesn't undo what got past legal, marketing and leadership at every step.' Merritt argued that the company should have caught the problematic imagery before the advertisement aired rather than only responding after public backlash, stating 'Do better means catching this before it airs — not after we're offended.'
Converse removes Instagram advertisement featuring K-pop singer Karina
Converse, the Nike-owned sneaker company, removed an Instagram advertisement featuring K-pop singer Karina wearing a white skirt and holding Chuck 70 X sneakers. The ad was posted on the Converse Malaysia Instagram page as part of a campaign. Social media users criticized the image, with online commenters claiming the triangular-shaped lighting on the skirt resembled a Ku Klux Klan hood and that the way the sneakers were positioned resembled a lynching victim.
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2 alternative perspectives
Converse Removes Ads, Apologizes After Backlash Over Imagery
Converse removed controversial ads and apologized; critics questioned if response was sufficient.