German sports apparel maker Adidas has withdrawn its plans to sell a controversial sneaker featuring affixed rubber shackles after the company generated significant criticism when advertising the shoe on its Facebook page . The high-top sneakers , dubbed the JS Roundhouse Mids , were expected to be released 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 commenters 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 , '' Dr. Boyce Watkins said 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 . '' Scott , for his part , posted a tweet Tuesday saying , `` work has always been inspired by cartoons , toys & my childhood . '' He attached a photo of a `` My Pet Monster '' -- a bright , plush character with its wrists shackled . 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 , '' he said in a statement Monday , before Adidas ' decision to withdraw them from the marketplace . He said Tuesday that civil rights groups had contacted NBA Commissioner David Stern , asking him to intercede . Jackson said the groups could engage in a boycott in about 50 markets if the shoes went on the sale . The photo of the sneakers was still 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 . Disturbances prompt cancellations of some Nike releases .
' Jackson says civil rights groups contacted the chief , asking him to intercede . Adidas called shoes a ` ` unique take on fashion and has nothing to do with slavery '' But critics such as Jackson labeled them ` ` offensive , appalling and insensitive '' Adidas issued an apology and said it will not sell the shoes .