Kim Kardashian Addresses Balenciaga’s BDSM Child Ad
Kim Kardashian says she is “re-evaluating” her working relationship with Balenciaga. This comes after the luxury fashion house featured disturbing images of children posing with teddy bears in bondage in its latest advertising campaign. The SKKN founder, who has been an ambassador for the fashion label, broke her silence Sunday (November 27) after folks on social media called her out to denounce the brand. Kim, 42, wrote on her social media accounts: “I have been quiet the past few days, not because I haven’t been disgusted 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.”
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.
— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) November 27, 2022
She went on to say that as a mother of four, she was left “shaken by the disturbing images.” She continued, “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 noted that she spoke with the company and that she believed they understood the seriousness of the issue and will take the “necessary measures for this to never happen again.” In a follow-up Story one hour later, the Skims founder added: “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 — & the actions I am expecting to see them take to protect children.”
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 — & the actions I am expecting to see them take to protect children.
— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) November 28, 2022
Kardashian’s statement comes days after Balenciaga pulled the controversial campaign, shot by photographer Gabriele Galimberti and part of a project called “Toy Stories,” and posted an apology on its Instagram page (now removed). “We sincerely apologize for any offense our holiday campaign may have caused,” the statement said. “Our plush bear bags should not have been featured with children in this campaign. We have immediately removed the campaign from all platforms.” Galimberti told CNN in a statement Wednesday that the direction and shooting of the “Toy Stories” campaign was out of his hands, claiming he was “not entitled in whatsoever manner to neither chose (sic) the products, nor the models, nor the combination of the same.” Balenciaga issued a further statement on Instagram apologizing for displaying “unsettling documents,” after a separate campaign featuring documents from a United States Supreme Court case relating to child pornography laws went viral. The company added that it planned to take “legal action against the parties responsible for creating the set and including unapproved items.” Galimberti said he had “no connection with the photo where a Supreme Court document appears.”
the brand "Balenciaga" just did a uh..... interesting... photoshoot for their new products recently which included a very purposely poorly hidden court document about 'virtual child porn'
— shoe (@shoe0nhead) November 21, 2022
normal stuff pic.twitter.com/zjMN5WhZ0s
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