Controversial Adidas 'Handcuff' sneaker gets the boot

Adidas on Monday canceled the release of its controversial JS Roundhouse Mid "Handcuff" sneaker after the Internet erupted with cries of racism for the shoes' so-called "shackles" design.

The "Handcuff," which was set for release in August and is seen above, was previewed by Adidas earlier this month on the company's Facebook page with the tagline: "Got a sneaker game so hot you lock your kicks to your ankles?"

Indie Wire first picked up the images last week, and since then the shoe's notoriety has spread everywhere from mainstream media outlets to celebs such as Talib Kweli and Reverend Jesse Jackson.

WTF @adidas sneakers with SHACKLES? Which morons approved these? Do better. dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2…

— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) June 18, 2012

In a statement with his Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Jackson decried Adidas for the implications of the sneakers' design.

"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. Removing the chains from our ankles and placing them on our shoes is no progress," Jackson said.

The shoe's designer, Jeremy Scott, said the sneakers show only his "quirky and lighthearted" style and is not inspired by "slave-movie-fever."

"My work has always been inspired by cartoons, toys & my childhood," the designer tweeted, along with a photo of the 80's toy My Pet Monster, which is wearing the orange handcuffs the shoe is based off.

Adidas said the design had nothing to do with racism.

"The 'Handcuff' "is nothing more than the designer Jeremy Scott's outrageous and unique take on fashion and has nothing to do with slavery," the company said in a statement. "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."