Photo: Screenshot of Weibo

A customer representative from Chinese sportswear brand Anta said that the company had taken down an advertising campaign which sparked online controversy, domestic news outlet Chinanews.com reported on Monday. 

The angle of the advertising photo was shot toward the gap between the female model's thighs from the shoe soles, an image which immediately drew backlash from many social media users for disrespecting women for alleged pornographic undertones. 

"Now ads have to gain traffic with vulgar content?" one Weibo user commented which received more than 23,000 likes as of press time.

"I have never seen any brand to sell shoes by showing their soles. Even in showing soles, I have never seen any brand showcasing [their product] like this," said another Weibo user.

Anta Sports recorded nearly 20 percent increase in its retail sales performance for the first quarter of 2022, while the company's other branded products posted growth of 40-45 percent, the company said in an official announcement on April 14.

Global Times