[OffTheHook]

[Image: http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/Z3WQv9..._2403044.0]


A new Adidas sneaker has sparked outrage, with sneaker fans accusing the brand of promoting racism. The Roundhouse Mid "Handcuff" shoe, created by controversial New York designer Jeremy Scott, features a plastic orange shackle that attaches to each ankle. The $350 sneakers hit stores in August, but Adidas promoted them on their official Facebook page on June 14 with this quote: "Tighten up your style with the JS Roundhouse Mids, dropping in August. Got a sneaker game so hot you lock your kicks to your ankles?" While the brand may be making a cheeky statement about shoe theft, many are equating these binding devices with slavery and prisoners. At press time the "Handcuff" sneaker image has over 36,000 Facebook likes, but many of the comments are angry and disapproving.
"Please tell me this is FAKE. I am not hearing these Adidas Amistad Originals," one woman commented on Facebook, referencing the ship famous for an African slave revolt in 1839. One man is prepared to boycott the brand out of respect to his African heritage. "I for one will NEVER don another pair of Adidas if these shoes see the light of day in the sneaker market," he wrote. One Facebook user reasoned that "corporate business has a social responsibility above all to consider these perceptions before releasing a product like this." Another flabbergasted person wondered, "This has to be some sort of prank right?" Others simply called the design "ignorant" and the look "slavewear."
But the reactions weren't all negative. One guy viewed the handcuff as a creative and lighthearted design component. "I just see this as a shoe so fly you better chain em to ya!" Several commenters said the shoes reminded them of the popular '80s toy My Pet Monster who wore identical orange plastic handcuffs. Many said they weren't offended by the shoe, but still felt they were ugly.

For those unfamiliar with Jeremy Scott, his designs for his own collection and his Adidas partnership are typically surprising and unusual. Previous designs for Adidas have included shows with playful plush teddy bear heads and leopard tails, giant wings, and even miniature tuxedos. Madonna, Kanye West, Beyoncé, and Rihanna are all avid Jeremy Scott fans. Some may dislike his outrageous designs, but the new "Handcuffs" model is the first one to ever be dubbed offensive. Initial images debuted in January on blogs like SneakerNews.com without any criticism, but the Adidas Facebook post made the shoe a larger public issue. The sneaker controversy is still ongoing with over 2,000 Facebook comments along with many websites and bloggers discussing their unique perspectives.
Yahoo! Shine reached out to Adidas for comment, and received this response. "The JS Roundhouse Mid is part of the Fall/Winter 2012 design collaboration between Adidas Originals and Jeremy Scott. 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. Jeremy Scott is renowned as a designer whose style is quirky and lighthearted and his previous shoe designs for Adidas Originals have, for example, included panda heads and Mickey Mouse. Any suggestion that this is linked to slavery is untruthful."
For some sneaker heads, though, this statement is not enough. One commenter wrote on Facebook, "Wow Adidas, you had an opportunity to fix this and you defiantly decided to go the racist route. Good for you. I hope your stock falls off a cliff."

What do you think of the new Adidas sneakers? Do you find them offensive, or do you think the company's explanation is satisfactory?
UPDATE: Tonight Adidas contacted us with an update on the status of the JS Roundhouse Mid sneaker. Their new statement is below.
"Since the shoe debuted on our Facebook page ahead of its market release in August, Adidas has received both favorable and critical feedback. We apologize if people are offended by the design and we are withdrawing our plans to make them available in the marketplace."




http://shine.yahoo.com/fashion/adidas-sh...00146.html

[Spud6]

I don't see racism in these. I just see the ugliest shoe I've ever saw!! Lol

[Westside]

I like them. I'd never wear them, but I think they're funny. IMO I see nothing racist about them.

[zaga_fan]

People will complain about anything...

[Jarons]

People should be complaining about the $350 pricetag.

[nky]

I thought they were new prison wear

[Stardust]

The funny thing is the the idea is being credited to an African American prisoner. I wonder if the ACLU will do their research before making assessed of themselves (again)

[RunItUpTheGut]

lol, if it had a rainbow on them the gays would be all over this as well.

[Stardust]

^ Rainbow coalition just abut covers every possible topic in this thread....

[OffTheHook]

I thought this was funny as well. NOT racist.

[judgementday]

Do not think it is racist.

Looks like something a drag queen would wear when playing basketball.

[Panther Thunder]

Look, racist or not, you CANNOT design this shoe and think that it won't immediately think about it. The first thing I saw was the shackles and went right to slavery. I mean this is moronic.

[Stardust]

^ There were no Jew, Christian, Asian, or Black slaves that I ever heard of wearing gym shoes like that! Which slaves are you talking about? Slavery in shackles has affected every race for thousands of years, so I assume you think this is offensives to all mankind, not singling out any particular race?

[RunItUpTheGut]

The next caucasian sneakers i see im gonna go off the deep end.
I dont know why anyone would want white shoes anyways, they get dirty to easy!

[Panther Thunder]

^ There were no Jew, Christian, Asian, or Black slaves that I ever heard of wearing gym shoes like that! Which slaves are you talking about? Slavery in shackles has affected every race for thousands of years, so I assume you think this is offensives to all mankind, not singling out any particular race?

If you see shackles that are meant to go around someone's ankles on a shoe marketed towards a largely African-American demographic, and it does not evoke thoughts of slavery, as race conscious (right or wrong) as America is, then more power to you.

I never said it was "racist", but you have got to see how idiotic it was to try to market this design. As if no one would bring up all the arguments that have been brought to the table.

[Stardust]

PT, I respectfully disagree that gym shoes with shackles makes me think of slavery. Gym shoes with shackles makes me think of white trash meth addicts!

[OffTheHook]

The first thing that crossed my mind was, people not being able to steal your shoes...LOL (Even though we know these wouldn't stop that.) I thought it was ingenious and hilarious! But, of course you always have some IDIOT out there trying to F things up. People just look to deep and try and read between the lines to much these days.

[vundy33]

If you see shackles that are meant to go around someone's ankles on a shoe marketed towards a largely African-American demographic, and it does not evoke thoughts of slavery, as race conscious (right or wrong) as America is, then more power to you.

I never said it was "racist", but you have got to see how idiotic it was to try to market this design. As if no one would bring up all the arguments that have been brought to the table.

lol man...just as large white and everything else demographic as well. You saying that most black people choose Adidas over the other brands? Or what bro?

[Panther Thunder]

lol man...just as large white and everything else demographic as well. You saying that most black people choose Adidas over the other brands? Or what bro?

The shoe fits the urban, hip hop type mold in my opinion. Which will be sold primarily in metropolitan areas will a more diverse population.

Maybe the phrasing was not politically correct and it is more that the areas targeted are more diverse than singling out a racial demographic and I apologize for that, but I am obviously fighting a losing battle and will concede.

[RunItUpTheGut]

The most important thing is that whether its racist or not, there couldnt be more than a hundred dumbasses out there that would acftually wear these shoes so it shouldnt matter.

[Stardust]

[Image: http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/Z3WQv9..._2403044.0]



http://shine.yahoo.com/fashion/adidas-sh...00146.html



[/B]

The most important thing is that whether its racist or not, there couldnt be more than a hundred dumbasses out there that would acftually wear these shoes so it shouldnt matter.

Make it 101

[Image: http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/2012/footbal...y.2.p1.jpg]

[OffTheHook]

^lol

[Do-double-gg]

I'm not even going to post on this one :dontthink

[Stardust]

^ You did:please: