ADIDAS PULLS "SHACKLE" SHOE AFTER RACISM OUTCRY!

Hours after defending the controversial design of a new line of sneakers against accusations of racism, Adidas announced the shoes would be pulled from production and not hit shelves in August as planned.

The JS Roundhouse Mids, which featured plastic orange chains and a cuff that strapped around the ankles, were slammed for resembling shackles, and many criticized Adidas for using an image reminiscent of slavery.

Adidas initially brushed off the controversy, saying the shoes were the result of the creative vision of designer Jeremy Scott, known for quirky and outrageous designs.

“Any suggestion that this is linked to slavery is untruthful,” the company said in a statement.

But as the controversy escalated, the athletic brand was forced to change direction, issuing a statement canceling the shoes while still defending the design.

"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," Adidas said in a statement emailed to the Daily News.

"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."

The response came after commenters and writers around the web exploded on Adidas's Facebook page last week after the company posted a picture of the shoe. Even the Rev. Jesse Jackson weighed in with harsh words for the company.

"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 before the company's decision to pull the shoe, according to CNN.

For his part, Scott said his design was inspired by a 1980's children's toy called My Pet Monster.

The oversized stuffed animal, complete with horns, a wide fanged smile, pink fur and googley yellow eyes, comes wearing plastic orange handcuffs around his furry blue wrists.

"My work has always been inspired by cartoons, toys & my childhood," Scott said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press.

SOURCE