A pair controversial pair of Adidas sneakers that critics have called racist has gotten the boot.
The German-based shoe company kicked its JS Roundhouse Mids Handcuff sneakers to the curb Tuesday, after critics claimed the design was racist and took to Facebook to rip the shoes that features a set of plastic orange ankle shackles.
Adidas posted photos of the design to Facebook on June 14 with the caption: “Got a sneaker game so hot you lock your kicks to your ankles?” It quickly drew more than 4,000 responses – most scathing.
“These shoe represent more than slavery but it is geared toward imprisonment and confinment! [sic]” one commenter fumed.
Another shot back, “It's crazy to me how ppl are mad at a pair of shoes and got them to cancel release. Its an attack on freedom of expression.”
The company said in a statement that the design was “nothing more” than American designer Jeremy Scott’s “outrageous and unique take on fashion and has nothing to do with slavery.”
"We apologize if people are offended by the design and we are withdrawing our plans to make them available in the marketplace," Adidas said.
Adidas did not return WNYC’s request for comment.
Jenna Flanagan has been an Associate Producer and contributing reporter for WNYC's All Things Considered, local news since 2006. Prior to that, she worked for 3 years as a general assignment reporter for the WBGO news department and won a Garden State Association of Black Journalists award.
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