Slaves to the latest sneaker fashions will have to find a new way of showing who’s their master now that Adidas has cancelled its $350-dollar “shackle shoes,” as per the Associated Press.  The JS Roundhouse Mid, which was to launch in August, came complete with orange ankle-chains that had critics accusing the company of promoting slavery.  Clearly, no self-respecting slave owner would have his chattel wearing anything less than the latest $350 Jeremy Scott design—but how else would you explain this outrageous idea?

By comparing it to a child’s toy, apparently.  ”My work has always been inspired by cartoons, toys & my childhood,” Scott said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press.  The inspiration in this case was a toy called My Pet Monster, a blue, furry creature with its arms—not its legs—in orange chains.  Hey, doesn’t Adidas make t-shirts, too?

Then again, despite the unfortunate placement of these not-so-stylish retro accessories, I think I can take Scott at his word here.  After all, it is quite a leap from making footwear depicting Mickey Mouse and panda bears to kicks designed to keep the black man down.