WASHINGTON – Adidas is getting ready to launch a new sneaker in August, but the kicks are already at the center of a growing controversy.
The design features purple, gray and black color blocking with orange shackles that wrap around the ankles.
Some accuse the manufacturer of being racist for invoking slave imagery, while others merely find it in poor taste.
“Tighten up your style with the JS Roundhouse Mids,” the company’s Facebook photo caption reads.
Below the picture are more than 2,000 comments about the new shoes:
“I pray for Adidas to have a downfall because of this,” Thulani Conco writes.
“Remove the shackles and the shoe is nice. How did this get to production with no eyebrows being raised?” asks Zita Vigier. “I know the youth today are very ignorant to the issues of the past that is still strong just in different forms.”
“Really Adidas? At least they r being honest,” says Babs Rowsey. “If u ever bought Adidas bcuz of fashion or a RUN DMC song… & not bcuz U personally wanted them… U deserve to have shackles on ur feet!”
Adidas has not released a statement about the controversial design.
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