Adidas has announced the discontinuation of the JS Roundhouse Mids model with yellow sham shackles. According to USA Today, it was decided to remove the sneakers from production after outrageous reviews from the public and critical publications in the press. It was originally planned to release the model on the market in August 2012 of the year.
The company unveiled the model with shackles on its Facebook page on June 18. The image of JS Roundhouse Mids was accompanied by the caption "So attached to my sneakers that I chained them to my ankles?"
After the image was published, about 2000 social network users left angry comments about the model, calling her "provocative" and "vulgar." Internet users claimed that the model promoted slavery because the shackles were similar to those worn by black slaves in America in the 19th century. Others associated the yellow shackles with those previously worn by American prisoners.
JS Roundhouse Mids sneaker designer Jeremy Scott said on his Twitter that he was inspired by the children's cartoon "My Handmade Monster" about a good-natured toy that came to life when plastic handcuffs were removed from it. Scott didn't want to offend the memory of the black slaves. This was also stated in Adidas' official apology to people who were outraged by the controversial model. Previously, Scott designed Adidas sneakers with Mickey Mouse and gorilla.
The image of JS Roundhouse Mids was removed from the brand’s Facebook page, but there you can still read the indignant user reviews about it, writes lenta.ru.
This isn't the first time that a controversial sneaker has been the target of consumer criticism. In the spring of 2012, Nike released a model for St. Patrick's Day called Black And Tan, referring to beers, according to The Daily Mail. At the same time, this is the unofficial name of the Irish police during the Irish War of Independence, and many representatives of this nationality associate the phrase "Black and Tanned" with the brutality of the actions of law enforcement agencies of that time.
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