Balenciaga has offered a statement following its controversial campaign that featured children holding what some have described as "BDSM-inspired" teddy bears.
In a post on Instagram, the French fashion house said they "strongly condemn child abuse" and "it was never our intent to include it in our narrative."
The first ad under fire, a "gift collection campaign" released on November 22, featured teddy bears in leather gear which has been likened to S&M ensemble. One of the photos showed a child holding a bear dressed in restraints with a lock and chain around its neck.
They said: "This was a wrong choice by Balenciaga, combined with our failure in assessing and validating images. The responsibility for this lies with Balenciaga alone."
All of the celebrities who have spoken out against Balenciaga Balenciaga
The second ad facing criticism was for Spring 2023, intended to replicate a "business office environment."
Some spectators had noticed a suspicious court document, which the brand addressed in its statement.
Balenciaga said the campaign "included a photo from a page in the background from a Supreme Court ruling 'United States v. Williams' 2008 which confirms as illegal and not protected by freedom of speech the promotion of child p*rnography."
"All the items included in this shooting were provided by third parties that confirmed in writing that these props were fake office documents."
Since faced with scrutiny, Balenciaga removed all their Instagram posts (before posting the statement) and various celebrities have spoken out, including Kim Kardashian and Kanye West.
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Kim Kardashian
"I have been quiet for the past few days, not because I haven’t been disgusted and outraged by the recent Balenciaga campaigns, but because I wanted an opportunity to speak to their team to understand for myself how this could have happened," Kardashian told her followers.
"As a mother of four, I have been shaken by the disturbing images. The safety of children must be held with the highest regard and any attempts to normalize child abuse of any kind should have no place in our society — period," Kim continued. "I appreciate Balenciaga’s removal of the campaigns and apology. In speaking with them, I believe they understand the seriousness of the issue and will take the necessary measures for this to never happen again."
Addressing her future plans to work with the brand again, Kardashian said: "As for my future with Balenciaga, I am currently re-evaluating my relationship with the brand, basing it off their willingness to accept accountability for something that should have never happened to begin with — and the actions I am expecting to see them take to protect children."
\u201cI have been quiet for the past few days, not because I haven\u2019t been disgusted and outraged by the recent Balenciaga campaigns, but because I wanted an opportunity to speak to their team to understand for myself how this could have happened.\u201d
— Kim Kardashian (@Kim Kardashian) 1669593523
Kanye West
Kanye West called out fellow celebrities for not condemning Balenciaga, comparing the ordeal to when Adidas froze his accounts.
"We saw me get debunked," he said. "If that can happen to someone like me, what’s happening to all of America? What’s happening to all of the world?"
He then suggested that "all the celebrities are controlled," before adding: "You don’t see no celebrities talking about the Balenciaga situation.
"Don’t let [these celebrities] influence you in any way because they’re controlled by the people who really influence the world."
Bethenny Frankel
The former Real Housewives of New York star and Skinny Girl founder Bethenny Frankel chimed in on the Balenciaga controversy, suggesting that A-listers have stayed quiet due to contracts.
Author Gianno Caldwell
"This year, more than any year in recent history, we have to protect our children," author Gianno Caldwell wrote on Twitter.
"What they learn in schools, what they see on TV and social media must be carefully monitored. The Balenciaga scandal is one of many examples of children’s innocence under attack."
Cooper Kupp
The NFL star took to Twitter to call out Balenciaga.
He wrote: "Please make yourself aware of the attack against our young ones by @balenciaga, and ensure that they are held responsible for it!"
Bella Hadid reportedly removes Balenciaga-associated posts
According to the Daily Mail, the supermodel reportedly deleted images promoting the luxury brand.
She allegedly shared a string of snaps from a Balenciaga campaign, before quickly deleting them from her Instagram feed.
North Korean human rights activist Yeonmi Park
North Korean human rights activist Yeonmi Park has spoken about Balenciaga’s new ad campaign.
"The hypocrisy of celebrities and the elite is beyond belief," she wrote on Twitter on Monday (November 28). "If we cannot stand up for innocent children, what can we possibly stand up for?
"Normalisation on pedophilia must stop right here, right now!"
Updates to follow...
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As an expert in fashion and cultural sensitivity, it is crucial to approach the recent Balenciaga controversy with a nuanced understanding of the industry, the power of visual communication, and the socio-cultural implications of advertising campaigns. The controversy revolves around two specific ad campaigns by Balenciaga, both facing criticism for different reasons.
The first campaign, released on November 22, featured a "gift collection" with teddy bears dressed in leather gear that some have likened to BDSM ensembles. One particular image showed a child holding a bear dressed in restraints with a lock and chain around its neck. The public reaction to this imagery prompted Balenciaga to issue a statement on Instagram, strongly condemning child abuse and stating that it was never their intent to include it in their narrative. The fashion house acknowledged the wrong choice in imagery and admitted to a failure in assessing and validating the images, taking sole responsibility for the error.
The second ad campaign, intended to depict a "business office environment" for Spring 2023, faced criticism for featuring a suspicious court document in the background. Balenciaga addressed this concern in their statement, explaining that the campaign included a photo from a page in the background of a Supreme Court ruling, 'United States v. Williams' 2008, which confirms as illegal the promotion of child p*rnography, not protected by freedom of speech. Balenciaga clarified that all items in the shoot were provided by third parties, who confirmed in writing that the props, including the fake office documents, were not real.
In the aftermath of the controversy, Balenciaga took swift action by removing all their Instagram posts and issuing an apology. Various celebrities, including Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, expressed their concern and outrage. Kim Kardashian, in particular, emphasized the importance of child safety and appreciated Balenciaga's removal of the campaigns and apology. She stated that she would re-evaluate her relationship with the brand based on their accountability and actions taken to prevent such incidents in the future.
Kanye West, on the other hand, criticized fellow celebrities for not condemning Balenciaga, drawing parallels with his own experiences with Adidas. He suggested that celebrities are controlled and urged the public not to be influenced by them.
Other voices, such as Bethenny Frankel, author Gianno Caldwell, NFL star Cooper Kupp, and North Korean human rights activist Yeonmi Park, joined the conversation on social media, condemning the Balenciaga campaign and emphasizing the need to protect children from such controversial content.
In conclusion, this Balenciaga controversy highlights the importance of responsible advertising, cultural sensitivity, and the impact of visual content in the fashion industry. It also underscores the role of celebrities in influencing public opinion and the need for brands to be accountable for the messages they convey.
