German athletic company Adidas decided this week to cancel its plans to release a new pair of kicks with plastic ankle shackles, after a barrel load of criticism from civil rights leaders, consumers, pro basketball league officials and players this week.
According to the Adidas Originals Facebook page, where the first images of the JS Roundhouse Mids debuted on June 14, the shoes were set to go on sale in August but four days of mounting public opinion saw the company announce it would cancel release of the $350USD product on June 18, according to ABC News.
The sneakers were created by designer Jeremy Scott and according to ABC News, were inspired by the My Pet Monster toy from the 1980s. Multiple My Pet Monster toys for sale on eBay show the vintage blue toy with bright orange shackles similar to those seen on the shoe.
The shoe received 38,000 'likes,' over 9,000 shares to other sites, and more than 4,000 comments and responses to the picture posted on Facebook with the caption: 'Got a sneaker game so hot you lock your kicks to your ankles?'
Opinions posted support both sides of the debate of whether the shoes have racist undertones.
The company has stood behind the product and its designer, saying in a statement to ABC News. '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 company said.
'We apologize if people are offended by the design and we are withdrawing our plans to make them available in the marketplace.'
Opps. Your bad Adidas.
@traceygillinder would like to apologize for cheating on Shoe Addict readers. Forgive me? Then check out the new Brisbane Times Plus One Column!
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