Kim Kardashian breaks silence after Balenciaga’s criticized campaign: “Shook”

Fashion house Balenciaga has been heavily criticized for a campaign that featured images of children together with teddy bears in BDSM outfits. Now Kim Kardashian, who is an ambassador for the brand, has spoken about the campaign.

Balenciaga’s latest campaign has been met with strong criticism on social media as many believe it sexualises children. The campaign, which has now been removed, featured images of children with teddy bears wearing what appeared to be BDSM clothing.

According to BBC News, an image from a separate campaign, from the brand’s collaboration with Adidas, has also been found to contain documents from a child pornography trial.

Published apology on Instagram

After the images were published on social media in mid-November, criticism grew, especially in the United States, against the campaign as many considered it to sexualize children – criticism that was even more widespread after some American television channels accused Balenciaga of “supporting child pornography “.

Balenciaga has now removed the campaign, as well as deleted all posts on Instagram. At the same time, they have published an apology on the same platform. In the apology, they write, among other things, that they are taking legal action against those responsible for the images and that they condemn all forms of child abuse.

“Our teddy bear bags should never have been shown alongside children in this campaign,” they write. “We have immediately removed this promotion from all platforms.”

Kim Kardashian: “Shocked by the pictures”

Kim Kardashian, an ambassador for Balenciaga, initially did not speak out about the controversial campaign – a choice she now explains in a post on Instagram:

“I have been silent for the past few days, not because I have not been disgusted and upset by Balenciaga’s recent campaigns, but because I wanted the opportunity to speak with their team to understand how this could have happened,” she writes and continues:

“As a mother of four children, I have been shaken by the disturbing images. Children’s safety must be respected and no attempt to normalize various forms of child abuse has any place in our society – period.”

Kardashian goes on to write that she “appreciates Balenciaga’s removal of the campaigns and apology”:

“After speaking with them, I believe they understand the seriousness of the problem and will take the necessary steps to ensure this never happens again.”

The reality star concludes by writing that she is currently “evaluating” her relationship with the brand, something she believes is dependent on their “willingness to take responsibility for something that should never have happened in the first place.” She also writes that she expects the fashion house to work to protect children.