The Adidas slogan may be "impossible is nothing," but there's some things even the infamous shoe brand can't do — and designing a sneaker to honor Black History Month is one of them, according to the backlash on social media.
Adidas is pulling a shoe it designed to commemorate Black History Month after customers and social media users expressed confusion and disappointment in the design. The running shoe is an all-white edition of their existing Ultraboost Uncaged collection. And while the website doesn't specify what materials were used to make the shoe, one Twitter user said a store employee told her they were made of cotton.
People on social media weren't impressed.
From the white design to the cotton material to even the name of the shoe, people took to Twitter to tell Adidas exactly what they thought of their Black History Month design.
@adidas really thought an all-white shoe was a good way to celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth ?!?! 🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️
— Christian Novales (@ChrisMiss23) February 1, 2019
So adidas put out all white shoes in honor of black history month 😂 and got backlash #StopBeingSensitivePeople
— Mr. Yamaguchi🌹 (@LouboutinHabits) February 1, 2019
I walked into a @JDSports today to look at the ultra boost shoe @adidas I was told by an employee that these shoes were made to celebrate black history month. Confused the employee proceeded to tell me that the shoe was also made of cotton? Hence the all white. I am disgusted
— barcaaaaaaaa (@cocosimple88) February 2, 2019
Adidas released an all white Black History Month Shoe 😂😂😂😂😂 how does shit like that even make it to the release nobody thought that was a bad idea? pic.twitter.com/vWWpaSW8L3
— Bubb$ (@Notorious_BubbA) February 1, 2019
Who makes an all white shoe celebrating #BlackHistoryMonth ?!?🤦🏽♂️ #Adidas ...thiiiiiink
— Cre0Le_DBoy〽️ (@RealBDaBosS) February 1, 2019
There are certain things in life that make no sense whatsoever and prob never will... Adidas celebrating black history month with this shoe is one example pic.twitter.com/HI5198i4gV
— John John (@JohnJohnVlogs_) February 3, 2019
No way adidas made an all white shoe for black history month “celebrating black culture” LMFAOOOOOOO pic.twitter.com/fWH6SaTCE2
— Michael (@mrmichaelmelvin) February 1, 2019
Adidas was about to drop an all white sneaker for Black History Month. Whew boy😂😂😂😂😂
— DeepRange Deadeye Dre (@OptimusPrmetime) February 4, 2019
Adidas made an all white shoe for black history month. Major L, get that trash from outta here.
— Pablo Escobear 🐻 (@Laclanta) February 1, 2019
Adidas could have gotten more creative with that shoe. They could have had all the milestones of black history like MLK, Rosa Parks, Sojourner Truth etc on the shoe instead of having it all white with some cushion. Wtf does that have to do with Black History Month?
— Miss Pineapple 🍍 (@danayshiaavette) February 1, 2019
Following the backlash, the company decided to remove the shoe from the collection. Adidas released the following statement regarding their decision:
Adidas released a new collection in celebration of Black History Month featuring designs inspired by the Harlem Renaissance. It includes footwear and apparel across a variety of categories. Toward the latter stages of the design process, we added a running shoe to the collection that we later felt did not reflect the spirit or philosophy of how adidas believes we should recognize and honor Black History Month. After careful consideration, we have decided to withdraw the product from the collection.
There are other items in the Black History Month collection that are slated to be available February 5, including three other black sneakers with pops of purple and shades of red and orange.
