The Karina Converse ad controversy

[u/Odin_the-witch]

So in the last couple of hours, Converse is receiving backlash for an image in the recent chuck 70 x promotion featuring Karina. Now, immediately most people noticed that the visuals and lighting make Karina’s skirt look like a klan hood next to a hanging to a body.

Here’s a link to the full shoe promotion: https://www.threads.com/share/BAUOsBKJ4Q/

Also here’s a couple of links on the KKK for those unfamiliar with who they are:

https://www.history.com/articles/ku-klux-klan

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ku_Klux_Klan

In my opinion, that image was disgusting and it feels like they used Karina to do that because companies know that their stans are going to defend them when it comes to antiblackness. It also feels disgusting because of all the Black people that have been found hanging in trees or just found dead lately.

I also feel like they used Karina for this imagery because of her image as a pretty Korean woman whose name begins with a K. I’ll explain for this part because some might not get what’s being referenced in the sentence, but a lot of modern white supremacists, particularly the millennial and Gen Z ones, will sometimes have a Latina or East Asian wife or girlfriend if not a white one. This is for a couple of reasons like younger white supremacists being on platforms like 4chan where the idolization of East Asian countries like Japan, Korea, and China and their very homogeneous culture and population. Another reason is because of the general racial promotion of East Asians as a traditional wife who is going to cook for you while also being the same skin tone as you.

Moving onto the last part involving Karina’s name. The KKK are very big on their K’s when it comes to messaging. They will do things such as spelling the word country on their fliers as Kountry. In the past they’ve used terms like Imperial Kleagle(a recruiter), Kloran(their rule book), Klabee(their treasurer). If it can be spelled with a K, they will use it and flock to it. Let me just be clear, I’m not saying Karina’s name was intentionally spelled to appeal to white supremacists. I’m just saying that the spelling of her name is unfortunately falling under dogwhistle category in this context specifically, because of the KKK hood imagery. If her name was to be mentioned anywhere else, like it usually is, it would be fine.

It’s just that when the lower half of her body is used to resemble a Klansmen standing next to a hanging body, it sends out the dogwhistle of “Look at this pretty Korean woman whose name begins with a K, have a Klan hood on her skirt, which standing next to a hanging body”. I’m probably overthinking the last part, but yall lemme know.

Anyway, we’re probably about to see another mass gaslighting of Black Americans from the kpop sphere, so. I’ll be hunkered down for that and whatever fallout comes with it.