Balenciaga scandal - Brand issues statement, drops lawsuit as creative director responds to backlash

Photographer Gabriele Galimberti addressed backlash to the Balenciaga holiday ad campaign in a recent statement.

The National Geographic photographer said he felt “compelled to make” the statement following the “hundreds of hate mails and messages I received as a result of the photos I took for the Balenciaga campaign”.

“I am not in a position to comment Balenciaga’s choices, but I must stress that I was not entitled in whatsoever manner to neither chose the products, nor the models, nor the combination of the same,” he wrote on Instagram. “As a photographer, I was only and solely requested to lit the given scene, and take the shots according to my signature style.”

“As usual for a commercial shooting, the direction of the campaign and the choice of the objects displayed are not in the hands of the photographer.”

Galimberti also clarified he has “no connection with the photo where a Supreme Court document appears.”

The photographers behind Balenciaga’s spring 2023 campaign have yet to comment on the backlash.

The photoshoot, which starred Bella Hadid, Nicole Kidman and Isabelle Huppert, was shot by Joshua Bright. Meanwhile, Chris Maggio captured the still-life images of accessories, including the Balenciaga/Adidas Hourglass handbag in which court documents relating to a Supreme Court decision on child pornography appears.

A book by a Belgian artist whose earlier work included depictions of castrated children was also spotted in the campaign images.

Read more for everything you need to know about the Balenciaga scandal.

The fashion brand published a controversial campaign featuring children holding bondage teddy bears, and a Supreme Court case on child pornography in a separate ad. Meredith Clark reports

Kanye West announced his support for Balenciaga as part of a Twitterstorm on Thursday (1 December) that saw him suspended from the social media platform.

In a series of controversial tweets, the rapper wrote: “I stand by Balenciaga and denounce all witch hunts and I cancel cancel culture. Jesus is King. Ending trafficking doesn’t start or end with a fashion campaign for Christ Sake”.

In a second tweet, he added: “Never turn our backs Demna [Balenciaga’s creative director] and the Balenciaga family for life. Cancel cancel culture, Jesus please heal.”

West was later suspended for violating the platform’s policy against violence after posted a design of a swastika inside the Star of David.

His comments come despite Balenciaga terminating its relationship with West in October just weeks after he opened the luxury brand’s Paris Fashion Week runway show.

Balenciaga’s parent company Kering said in a statement: “Balenciaga has no longer any relationship nor any plans for future projects related to this artist.”

The announcement was made following West’s outbursts of antisemitism and decision to wear a “White Lives Matter” shirt, during his surprise YZY SZN 9 presentation in Paris, a move that prompted widespread consternation across the fashion industry.

Arie Luyendyk Jr. and his wife Lauren Burnham are the latest celebrities to protest Balenciaga.

The star of season 22 of The Bachelor burned a pair of Balenciaga shoes and shared it on social media on Thursday (1 December), with the caption, “Bye Balenciaga”.

The 41-year-old and his wife could be seen torching the designer shoes and throwing them in a bin.

Fellow reality TV star Cody Nickson commented: “Burn in hell Balenciaga”, while season 24 winner of The Bachelor, Hannah Ann Sluss, wrote: “And good”, posting a high five emoji.

Another follower wrote: “Don’t forget about Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, and Alexander McQueen. They, and Balenciaga, are all owned by the same parent company. Food for thought.”

Kering has yet to make a statement regarding the controversy.

Social media users have flooded Kering’s Twitter profile with comments regarding the matter.

“Please stop destroying Cristobal Balenciaga’s legacy,” wrote one user.

“The campaign with little girls looking fearful, in beds and with bondage teddy bears does not precisely scream respect or support. Handle the brand with responsibility or give it up.”

The creative director of Balenciaga Demna has posted a personal apology to his Instagram page.

It reads: “I want to personally apologise for the wrong artistic choice of concept for the gifting campaign with the kids and I take my responsibility (sic). It was inappropriate to have kids promote objects that had nothing to do with them.

“As much as I would sometimes like to provoke a thought through my work (sic), I would NEVER have an intention to do that with such an awful subject as child abuse which I condemn. Period.

“I need to learn from this, listen and engage with child protection organisations to know how I can contribute and help on this terrible subject.

“I apologise to anyone offended by the visuals and Balenciaga has guaranteed that adequate measures will be taken not only to avoid similar mistakes in the future but also to take accountability in protecting child welfare in every way we can.”

Social media is starting to respond to Balenciaga creative director Demna’s recent statement (see previous post) in which he apologised for making the “wrong artistic choice”.

In a post shared to Instagram, he wrote: “I want to personally apologise for the wrong artistic choice of concept for the gifting campaign with the kids and I take my responsibility (sic). It was inappropriate to have kids promote objects that had nothing to do with them.”

Despite calls for his resignation, the statement has been widely interpreted as a sign that the luxury brand has decided to keep the designer in post.

Responses on social media to the statement have largely been negative so far.

“This is pure corporate communication and empty language elements,” wrote one user on Twitter. “It’s far from being at the level of what’s at stake.”

Another wrote: “What took so long, Demna? I want him out because he’s messing with one of my favourite brands’ legacy”.

Balenciaga creative director Demna’s recent Instagram post in which he apologised for making “the wrong artistic choice” has been received poorly on social media.

After apologising to “anyone offended by the visuals”, the 41-year-old designer said the brand had “guaranteed that adequate measures will be taken not only to avoid similar mistakes in the future but also to take accountability in protecting child welfare in every way we can”.

On Twitter, he has been attacked for his choice of language - “empty” - and for the impact of his artistic decision upon the luxury fashion brand.

“How do they come back from this?,” wrote one user. “The creative vision lies with him. When Galliano had to leave Dior for an antisemitic rant, the brand carried on. Will this do Balenciaga long-term harm? There is no doubt Demna has altered the fashion scene, but I’m not convinced he will survive.”

Balenciaga creative director Demna’s apology Instagram post featured a promise to “learn from this”.

He condemned child abuse and said that he plans to learn more about organisations that are centred on protecting children.

“As much as I would sometimes like to provoke a thought through my work, I would NEVER have an intention to do that with such an awful subject as child abuse that I condemn,” he continued. “I need to learn from this, listen and engage with child protection organisations to know how I can contribute and help on this terrible subject.”

He concluded his apology by sharing what Balenciaga’s next steps would be, following the scandal.

“I apologise to anyone offended by the visuals and Balenciaga has guaranteed that adequate measures will be taken not only to avoid similar mistakes in the future but also to take accountability in protecting child welfare in every way we can,” he concluded.

The Independent’s Amber Raiken has more:

Prior to Demna’s apology, photographer Gabriele Galimberti addressed backlash to the Balenciaga holiday ad campaign in a statement.

The National Geographic photographer said he felt “compelled to make” the statement following the “hundreds of hate mails and messages I received as a result of the photos I took for the Balenciaga campaign”.

“I am not in a position to comment Balenciaga’s choices, but I must stress that I was not entitled in whatsoever manner to neither chose the products, nor the models, nor the combination of the same,” he wrote on Instagram. “As a photographer, I was only and solely requested to lit the given scene, and take the shots according to my signature style.”

“As usual for a commercial shooting, the direction of the campaign and the choice of the objects displayed are not in the hands of the photographer.”

Galimberti also clarified he has “no connection with the photo where a Supreme Court document appears.”

The Independent’s Chelsea Ritschel has more: