Balenciaga scandal - update: Fashion brand issues apology after furious reaction to ad campaigns
Balenciaga has issued a statement “strongly condemning child abuse” while addressing the fallout over its controversial ad campaigns involving children.
On Monday, the fashion house shared a new statement on Instagram in which it said it “would like to address the controversies surrounding our recent ad campaigns”.
Balenciaga has faced widespread backlash over two recent ad campaigns involving children. One of the ads, the designer’s gift collection campaign, featured children posing with the brand’s teddy bear purses, which critics pointed out appear to be wearing BDSM and bondage-inspired accessories.
The second ad under scrutiny is Balenciaga’s Spring 2023 campaign, for its use of a printout of a Supreme Court decision on child pornography.
In the post, the designer brand wrote: “We strongly condemn child abuse; it was never our intent to include it in our narrative.
“The two separate ad campaigns in question reflect a series of grievous errors for which Balenciaga takes responsibility.”
Stay tuned for the latest updates.
Key points
Everything we know about the scandal so far
Balenciaga takes action against production company
Kim Kardashian reevaluating relationship with brand
Photographer distances himself from campaign
Oli London urges everyone to ‘keep up the pressure on Balenciaga'
07:52 , Peony Hirwani
Oli London has urged his fans to “keep up the pressure on Balenciaga and every celebrity associated with them”.
“We cannot allow this scandal to blow over as last week’s news story,” they wrote on Twitter. “Balenciaga has done something unforgivable. Children are sacred and precious. Never forget what they tried to normalise.”
Everyone please keep up the pressure on BALENCIAGA and every celebrity associated with them
We cannot allow this scandal to blow over as last weeks news story
Balenciaga has done something unforgivable. Children are sacred and precious. Never forget what they tried to Normalise— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) November 28, 2022
YouTuber Blair White condemns Balenciaga
07:32 , Peony Hirwani
YouTuber Blair White has hit out at Balenciaga.
“If Balenciaga did something that offended the LGBT community, every celebrity would have cut ties instantly,” she wrote on Twitter on Monday (28 November). “They promoted child porn and nearly every celebrity is silent. Really makes you think, huh?”
In a separate tweet, White said that the brand is “cancelled” for her.
“I’ve spent thousands of dollars on them, but now I’ll be donating my items to the nearest homeless shelter.”
I rarely boycott, but Balenciaga is cancelled for me.
I’ve spent thousands of $ on them, but now I’ll be donating my items to the nearest homeless shelter.— BLAIRE WHITE (@MsBlaireWhite) November 28, 2022
Second apology admits fault and negligence
06:40 , Oliver O'Connell
On Monday, Balenciaga issued a second apology going into further detail about the two ad campaigns and attempting to explain where mistakes were made:
The Independent’s Chelsea Ritschel has the details:
Balenciaga releases new statement addressing controversial ads
Who else is giving up the brand?
04:40 , Oliver O'Connell
Journalist and author Omid Scobie tweeted on Sunday night that he had given away all of the Balenciaga clothes he owns.
“Got rid of all my Balenciaga this weekend. I loved that brand but no apology can ever be enough for what they let happen. Cancelled for good,” he tweeted.
Got rid of all my Balenciaga this weekend. I loved that brand but no apology can ever be enough for what they let happen. Cancelled for good.
— Omid Scobie (@scobie) November 28, 2022
The Finding Freedom author later clarified when asked how he had disposed of the clothes: “Charity shop. It would be a waste to trash or destroy items of value that someone else may want (or want to buy and resell). Plus that’s what I’ve always done with unwanted clothes (unless it’s a major piece — then I’ll use Vestiaire).
Charity shop. It would be a waste to trash or destroy items of value that someone else may want (or want to buy and resell). Plus that’s what I’ve always done with unwanted clothes (unless it’s a major piece — then I’ll use Vestiaire).
— Omid Scobie (@scobie) November 28, 2022
What happened to Balenciaga?
04:10 , Peony Hirwani
In recent years, Balenciaga has become known for its controversial campaigns, celebrity ambassadors, and revolutionary design.
Here are the details.
From the Supreme Court to Kim Kardashian: What happened to Balenciaga?
Balenciaga takes action against production company
03:40 , Oliver O'Connell
Balenciaga has not only apologised for the ads but has also filed a lawsuit against the production company responsible for a controversial ad campaign in which court documents from a Supreme Court opinion on child pornography were visible.
The suit, which was filed on 25 November in the New York State Supreme Court, accuses production company North Six Inc – and its agent, Nicholas Des Jardins – of engaging in “inexplicable acts and omissions” that were “malevolent or, at the very least, extraordinarily reckless.”
Balenciaga is seeking $25m in monetary damages.
Meredith Clark has the details.
Balenciaga sues production company for $25m over controversial ad
02:40 , Oliver O'Connell
Bella Hadid is not alone in distancing herself from Balenciaga in light of the fallout from the controversial ad campaign.
Kim Kardashian has revealed that she is “re-evaluating” her relationship with the luxury fashion house.
“As a mother of four, I have been shaken by the disturbing images,” she said in a social media statement.
Peony Hirwani reports on what else the Skims owner said.
Kim Kardashian ‘re-evaluating’ her relationship with Balenciaga
Supermodel Bella Hadid deletes Instagram posts
01:40 , Oliver O'Connell
Supermodel Bella Hadid appears to have deleted photos of her wearing clothes from Balenciaga’s spring 2023 campaign from her Instagram amid criticism directed at the fashion brand over two of its recent campaigns.
Bella Hadid reportedly deletes Balenciaga post amid calls to speak out against brand
Photographer distances himself from campaign
00:40 , Oliver O'Connell
The photographer who shot Balenciaga’s recent controversial campaign, which featured children holding teddy bears dressed in bondage gear, has issued a statement regarding the backlash.
On Wednesday, National Geographic photographer Gabriele Galimberti addressed the criticism in an Instagram statement, which he said he felt “compelled to make” following the “hundreds of hate mails and messages I received as a result of the photos I took for the Balenciaga campaign”.
Chelsea Ritschel reports on what he said about the controversy.
Photographer who shot Balenciaga ad featuring ‘BDSM’ teddy bears breaks silence
What happened and why is the designer label apologising?
Monday 28 November 2022 23:40 , Oliver O'Connell
Balenciaga has apologised after backlash over a recent ad campaign, which featured children holding teddy bears dressed in bondage gear and an image of a Supreme Court opinion on a child pornography case.
On Tuesday, the Spanish fashion label issued a statement to its Instagram story. “We sincerely apologise for any offense our holiday campaign may have caused,” the statement read. “Our plush bear bags should not have been featured with children in this campaign. We have immediately removed the campaign from all platforms.”
Meredith Clark reports.
Balenciaga apologises for children’s campaign featuring ‘bondage’ teddy bears
Julia Fox stands up for women bearing brunt of backlash
Monday 28 November 2022 23:20 , Oliver O'Connell
Julia Fox has seemingly defended Kim Kardashian after the reality star was criticised for not speaking out sooner against Balenciaga’s controversial ad campaign.
On 28 November, the Uncut Gems actor shared her thoughts on the Balenciaga scandal in a TikTok video after fans asked her to weigh in on the photoshoot.
Meredith Clark reports on what she said.
Julia Fox appears to defend Kim Kardashian amid Balenciaga scandal
Fans call out Nicole Kidman over silence on controversy
Monday 28 November 2022 23:00 , Oliver O'Connell
Fans of Nicole Kidman are calling on the actor to release a statement regarding her relationship with Balenciaga amid backlash over the brand’s recent ad campaigns featuring children.
Chelsea Ritschel reports.
Fans call on Nicole Kidman to denounce Balenciaga
Voices: Kim Kardashian has finally said something we can all agree with
Monday 28 November 2022 22:40 , Oliver O'Connell
Victoria Richards writes:
It’s not often that I find myself naturally aligned with Kim Kardashian. I mean: we are the same age, and... that’s it. One other similarity: we both have kids. Oh, and neither of us think that children should be used to promote fetish wear.
Opinion: Kim Kardashian has finally said something we can all agree with
Do the problems go back further?
Monday 28 November 2022 22:20 , Oliver O'Connell
Balenciaga is by no means the first fashion brand to find itself mired in controversy over a tasteless ad campaign, but journalist Lorraine King believes this is not their first offence.
She tweeted: “I wish they had been cancelled when they started trolling working class people. I’m glad they finally are now. Terrible company.”
I wish they had been cancelled when they started trolling working class people.
I'm glad they finally are now.
Terrible company. pic.twitter.com/zqj0xRjRYm— Lorraine King (@lorrainemking) November 28, 2022
The accompanying tweet included images of Balenciaga products based on shopping bags and safety gear.
Other examples from the luxury fashion house include a handbag modelled on a bag of potato chips:
‘A fashion mockery’: Fans react to Balenciaga x ‘Lays’ handbag
And the “most expensive trash bag in the world”.
Balenciaga drops ‘most expensive trash bag in the world’ for $1,790
Everything we know about the scandal so far
Monday 28 November 2022 22:00 , Oliver O'Connell
Meredith Clark unwraps everything we know so far about the controversial ad campaigns and the subsequent fallout.
From the Supreme Court to Kim Kardashian: What happened to Balenciaga?
Who else is giving up the brand?
Monday 28 November 2022 21:40 , Oliver O'Connell
Journalist and author Omid Scobie tweeted on Sunday night that he had given away all of the Balenciaga clothes he owns.
“Got rid of all my Balenciaga this weekend. I loved that brand but no apology can ever be enough for what they let happen. Cancelled for good,” he tweeted.
Got rid of all my Balenciaga this weekend. I loved that brand but no apology can ever be enough for what they let happen. Cancelled for good.
— Omid Scobie (@scobie) November 28, 2022
The Finding Freedom author later clarified when asked how he had disposed of the clothes: “Charity shop. It would be a waste to trash or destroy items of value that someone else may want (or want to buy and resell). Plus that’s what I’ve always done with unwanted clothes (unless it’s a major piece — then I’ll use Vestiaire).
Charity shop. It would be a waste to trash or destroy items of value that someone else may want (or want to buy and resell). Plus that’s what I’ve always done with unwanted clothes (unless it’s a major piece — then I’ll use Vestiaire).
— Omid Scobie (@scobie) November 28, 2022
Second apology admits fault and negligence
Monday 28 November 2022 21:20 , Oliver O'Connell
On Monday, Balenciaga issued a second apology going into further detail about the two ad campaigns and attempting to explain where mistakes were made:
The Independent’s Chelsea Ritschel has the details:
Balenciaga releases new statement addressing controversial ads
Balenciaga takes action against production company
Monday 28 November 2022 21:00 , Oliver O'Connell
The Spanish fashion label has not only apologised for the ads but has also filed a lawsuit against the production company responsible for a controversial ad campaign in which court documents from a Supreme Court opinion on child pornography were visible.
The suit, which was filed on 25 November in the New York State Supreme Court, accuses production company North Six Inc – and its agent, Nicholas Des Jardins – of engaging in “inexplicable acts and omissions” that were “malevolent or, at the very least, extraordinarily reckless.”
Balenciaga is seeking $25m in monetary damages.
Meredith Clark has the details.
Balenciaga sues production company for $25m over controversial ad
Monday 28 November 2022 20:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Bella Hadid is not alone in distancing herself from Balenciaga in light of the fallout from the controversial ad campaign.
Kim Kardashian has revealed that she is “re-evaluating” her relationship with the luxury fashion house.
“As a mother of four, I have been shaken by the disturbing images,” she said in a social media statement.
Peony Hirwani reports on what else the Skims owner said.
Kim Kardashian ‘re-evaluating’ her relationship with Balenciaga
Supermodel Bella Hadid deletes Instagram posts
Monday 28 November 2022 20:30 , Oliver O'Connell
Supermodel Bella Hadid appears to have deleted photos of her wearing clothes from Balenciaga’s spring 2023 campaign from her Instagram amid criticism directed at the fashion brand over two of its recent campaigns.
Bella Hadid reportedly deletes Balenciaga post amid calls to speak out against brand
Photographer distances himself from campaign
Monday 28 November 2022 20:15 , Oliver O'Connell
The photographer who shot Balenciaga’s recent controversial campaign, which featured children holding teddy bears dressed in bondage gear, has issued a statement regarding the backlash.
On Wednesday, National Geographic photographer Gabriele Galimberti addressed the criticism in an Instagram statement, which he said he felt “compelled to make” following the “hundreds of hate mails and messages I received as a result of the photos I took for the Balenciaga campaign”.
Chelsea Ritschel reports on what he said about the controversy.
Photographer who shot Balenciaga ad featuring ‘BDSM’ teddy bears breaks silence
What happened and why is the designer label apologising?
Monday 28 November 2022 20:04 , Oliver O'Connell
Balenciaga has apologised after backlash over a recent ad campaign, which featured children holding teddy bears dressed in bondage gear and an image of a Supreme Court opinion on a child pornography case.
On Tuesday, the Spanish fashion label issued a statement to its Instagram story. “We sincerely apologise for any offense our holiday campaign may have caused,” the statement read. “Our plush bear bags should not have been featured with children in this campaign. We have immediately removed the campaign from all platforms.”
Meredith Clark reports.
Balenciaga apologises for children’s campaign featuring ‘bondage’ teddy bears
