(Newser)
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Looks like the only place the Adidas "shackle" shoe will be walking is into the Museum of Bad Ideas. The company has canceled plans to release the JS Roundhouse Mids, which were to come with a plastic, bright orange chain and ankle cuffs, after an outcry from people who accused Adidas of making light of slavery, reports CNN. "Got a sneaker game so hot you lock your kicks to your ankles?" asked the Adidas promo campaign.
"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," said Jesse Jackson, one of the most high-profile critics. Adidas initially defended designer Jeremy Scott's "quirky" style before deciding to cancel the shoe. The design had nothing to do with slavery, but "we apologize if people are offended by the design and we are withdrawing our plans to make them available in the marketplace," the company said.
