The Spanish-origin luxury brand Balenciaga and Kim Kardashian have been long-time collaborators. The socialite featured in many campaigns of the brand. Recently, she strutted on the ramp for the couture show of the brand along with Nicole Kidman, Naomi Campbell, and others. The brand entered a new era with her. She has also slayed in the spandex coords on many occasions.
However, the brand has come under fire for its Springs 2023 collection campaign. Balenciaga is known for ensuing itself in many controversies. They have been accused of plagiarism, and some eccentric products and campaigns have proved damaging to the brand. Recently, they released a campaign featuring two small girls holding soft toys harnessed with BDSM and S&M items. Also, there were child pornography papers. People were fuming that ambassadors like Kim were silent on the stupefying campaign. But, Kim has finally spoken and she is not happy.
Also Read: Why Did Balenciaga File A Lawsuit Against The Producers Of The Controversial Campaigns?
Why Kim Kardashian Was Silent Even After The Public Uproar?
On 21st November 2022, one of the all-mothers online forums noticed the campaign. The user wrote, “Has anyone else seen this? It’s on the main page of their website and is wildly inappropriate”. Since then, the campaign pictures started making rounds garnering the attention of the media, politicians, and social media users. The campaign featured two girls holding stuffed toys. One of the girls was holding a white bear that had fishnets and a padlock choker. Another girl held a purple koala in BDSM attire.
People pressed the celebrities who have endorsed the brand to comment on it including Kim Kardashian. The reality TV star is one of the main ambassadors of the brand. On the very day of the controversy, she wore an Adidas X Balenciaga collaboration athleisure. Now after a week, the SKIMS founder has broken her silence on the issue. On her Twitter handle, she released a thread of tweets. In the tweets, she clarified why she was silent this whole time.
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 wrote, “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.”
The mother of four—Chicago, Psalm, North, and Saint, expressed that she felt shaken after seeing the “disturbing images”. Kim continued, “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.”
Also Read: “One Of The Most Freeing Days”: Kanye West Reacts To Getting Sacked By Balenciaga
She Is ‘Re-evaluating’ Her Relationship With Balenciaga
When the outrage burst on social media, the brand took down the campaign and released an apology. The statement read, “We sincerely apologize for any offense our holiday campaign may have caused. Our plush bear bags should not have been featured with children in this campaign. We have immediately removed the campaign from all platforms”.
The entrepreneur appreciates the apology and removing the campaign, but it may affect the future relationship between her and the brand. The Kardashian 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”.
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
She 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 — & the actions I am expecting to see them take to protect children”.
Also Read: “Hate Speech Is Never Okay”: Kim Kardashian Breaks Silence Amid Kanye West’s Anti-Semitic Comments
