Really Adidas?....now with shackles

[Optimus Prime]

They will be collectors items now if Adidas has already made some of these...

Adidas cancels 'shackle' shoes after outcry - CNN.com

(CNN) -- German sports apparel maker Adidas withdrew its plans to sell a controversial sneaker featuring affixed rubber shackles after the company generated significant criticism when advertising the shoe on it's Facebook page.

The high-top sneakers, dubbed the JS Roundhouse Mids, were expected to release in August, according to the Adidas Originals Facebook page. "Got a sneaker game so hot you lock your kicks to your ankles?" a caption below a photo of the sneakers read.

The June 14 post prompted plenty of criticism from around the web, with many of those commenting saying they felt the shackle invoked the painful image of slavery.

"Wow obviously there was no one of color in the room when the marketing/product team ok'd this," said a commenter identifying herself as MsRodwell on nicekicks.com.

"I literally froze up when I saw a new design from Adidas set to hit stores in August," said Dr. Boyce Watkins in a post for the website Your Black World.

Though dismissing the criticism in a written statement by defending the sneaker's designer, Jeremy Scott, as having a "quirky" and "lighthearted" style, Adidas nonetheless said Monday that it planned to cancel the shoe's release.

"The design of the JS Roundhouse Mid is nothing more than the designer Jeremy Scott's outrageous and unique take on fashion and has nothing to do with slavery," the statement said. "We apologize if people are offended by the design and we are withdrawing our plans to make them available in the marketplace."

One of Adidas' most high-profile condemnations came from the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

"The attempt to commercialize and make popular more than 200 years of human degradation, where blacks were considered three-fifths human by our Constitution is offensive, appalling and insensitive," Jackson said in a statement Monday, prior to Adidas's decision to withdraw them from the marketplace.

The photo could still be found in the photo section of Adidas' Facebook page Tuesday morning. And whether Adidas wanted it or not, the sneakers were still inspiring a spirited debate about race in the comment section of its Facebook page.

 

[se1f_made]

One of Adidas' most high-profile condemnations came from the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

"The attempt to commercialize and make popular more than 200 years of human degradation, where blacks were considered three-fifths human by our Constitution is offensive, appalling and insensitive," Jackson said in a statement Monday, prior to Adidas's decision to withdraw them from the marketplace.

fukk Jesse Jackson

 

[concise]

These crackas make me sick

https://twitter.com/#!/ITSJEREMYSCOTT

look at this nikka retweeting all these comments from the blind sheep and c00ns. fukkin pathetic yo.

at buying stuff inspired by a dude who looks like this.

 

[SoulController]

guy looks like a Sacha Baron Cohen character

i knew he was gonna use My Pet Monster as a copout, that shyt wasnt popular enough to use 25 years later

 

[pete clemenza]

wtf was addias thinking with this shyt? who sat back in the board/marketing room and agreed to this

 

[superunknown23]

They will be collectors items know if Adidas has already made some of these...

Adidas cancels 'shackle' shoes after outcry - CNN.com

KKK ordering caseloads of it now

 

[George's Dilemma]

Me personally, I can see the slavery connection, although I see a connection to the prison system first and foremost. I have to say though, I'm disappointed in Adidas rescinding these. (not that I was planning on purchasing these as they look silly to me) If they didn't mean any harm and didn't intentionally market a shoe to purposely conjure images of slavery to the minds of the easily offended, they should have simply explained themselves, apologized, and still put the shoe out there. For those that like the kicks, they can purchase it. For those that don't like it, they can clown those that do, or protest with their money by not purchasing,

I can't help but wonder that for those that are offended over these, if they're just looking for something to get offended over. This is on par with the Gwyneth Paltrow situation. nikkaz just lookin for something to get irritated about as if multimillionaire entertainers with their enterouges brawling and tossing bottles at each other in a predominantly white club, thereby living up to white folk's stereotypes about us isn't good enough to get offended over for some reason.

I will agree thought that it's hard to imagine the folks at Adidas not forseeing some potential flack for putting these out.

 

[The_King_of_Everything]

 

[you're NOT "n!ggas"]

wow i seen the article for this on yahoo but never clicked cuz they aint show the shackles. i thought people was just mad cuz they was CALLIN the shoes "shackles", i aint realize they actually PUT shackles on the shoes


i cant lie though, seein it now i wish somebody had came up with this concept for an painting/art photo... the social commentary is

 

[aqualung]

I don't think this is racist. This is an ingenious device that makes it harder for nikkas to steal your shoes.

post-1980s, have Adidas been popular enough for Americans to stand in line for new releases OR to steal new shoes when insufficient pairs are released? I thought it was a Nike phenomenon, but I'm not a sneaker head.

Are the shackles detachable? Looks like they velcro shut. That aint much protection, but it's something.
Would one wear them over the pants or under pants over socks/skin?

The JS designer is a white boy from Kansas City, Missouri. He knows USA history wrt slavery. Throw him in the bushes and all the other Adidas insiders who failed to give feedback about the slavery angle.

Skater boys chain their wallets to their belt loops so they don't lose stuff when upside down and flipping and on ramps. Is this like that?

Maybe even critical facebook publicity about adidas will boost sales?
Ex: I haven't thought about the Adidas brand in years. Now I'm remembering the company. As a kid, I liked the basic, low top Adidas with the 3 stripes in contrasting color (trendy at the time). I wanted them in my school colors. Other kids had them in my school colors with matching jackets. But my parents could not afford brand name stuff, and the trend passed.
I have never owned a pair of Adidas AT ALL IN LIFE.
Perhaps I should get on that...

 

[I-Hate-You]

Adidas has the occasional hot release that moves quickly. I think the most recent one was the Run DMC Anniversary Superstar. But in general, their kicks aren't causing mayhem - I'm still a fan though. I like what they do for the most part. And I like that I can pick up their stuff without the fukkery that surrounds the typical Nike drop.

The Jeremy Scott "shackles" photos have been out since January at least - and they're just now stirring up controversy. Furthermore, Scott did interviews in the last several months where he explained the Pet Monster connection.

Obviously, a company like adidas has to foresee these things. That's why you pay people. I've never perceived Scott as a racist...though I don't know the guy. He is a pretty flamboyant homosexual who deals with a ton of bigotry though.

 

[ghostwriterx]

and what do these racist muthafukkas associate blacks with?

<< this should be you after a few mins.

What do black people associate black people with? We make the connection more than white folks.

 

[Sam Peel]

Whitlock: Adidas' shackle shoes were an attempt to capitalize on prison culture - NBA News | FOX Sports on MSN

 

[PacBlood]

I swear nikkas be complaining about every little thing

 

[Big Boss]

These shoes companies