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

Social media users call on Adidas to respond to the Balenciaga backlash, after a purse from Balenciaga’s spring 2023 collaboration with Adidas was featured in a photoshoot in which documents from a Supreme Court case on child pornography appeared in the background.

ICYMI: Balenciaga creative director Demna Gvasalia issued an apology amid the brand’s recent ad scandal.

“I want to personally apologise for the wrong artistic choice of concept for the gifting campaign with kids and I take my responsibility,” he said in an Instagram statement. “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, I would NEVER have an intention to do that with such an awful subject as child abuse that I condemn. 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.”

Who is Michaël Borremans?

The Belgian artist’s work was seen in the background of a photoshoot for Balenciaga, in which Supreme Court documents from a case on child pornography were visible.

According to the Hong Kong David Zwirner gallery, his paintings in Fire from the Sun depict “toddlers engaged in playful but mysterious acts with sinister overtones and insinuations of violence”.

WATCH: Street artist writes ‘paedophilia’ on Balenciaga window in London

Street artist Joe Bloggs, known by his artist name as The Average Man, placed a vinyl sticker with the words “paedophilia” on the glass display window of a Balenciaga store on New Bond street in central London.

The words appeared three times in black below two back-to-back facing letter “Ps”.

VOICES: Bravo Balenciaga, you have got exactly what you wanted

“Not only are there urgent discussions to be had about what (and what definitely isn’t) age-appropriate; but we need to talk about the use of child models to sell adult goods to begin with; about the murky history and treatment of youngsters in the modelling industry for decades and – quite simply – about misleading kids.”

“It comes down to two things: consent and respect. We ask a lot of our kids, and (all too often) we expect them to blindly obey. We don’t give them anywhere near the same accord or autonomy that we give to fellow grown-ups. And that’s wrong. This Balenciaga campaign proves it.”

The Independent’s Victoria Richards comments on the Balenciaga backlash:

Balenciaga posted a new statement to Instagram on Friday (2 December).

The brand said it will drop its lawsuit against the production company behind the spring 2023 photoshoot.

“I want to personally reiterate my sincere apologies for the offense caused and take my responsibility,” said Balenciaga president and CEO, Cédric Charbit. “At Balenciaga, we stand together for children safety and do not tolerate any kind of violence and hatred message.”

Balenciaga has announced the brand will be taking action “to learn from our mistakes as an organisation.”

These steps include implementing new control instances, such as content validation and an image board.

“On the internal side, we nominate with immediate effect an image board responsible for evaluating the nature of our content from concept to final assets, including legal, sustainability and diversity expertise,” the company said in a statement.

“On the external side, we have appointed a best-in-class agency to assess and evaluate our content,” Balenciaga continued.

The brand has also reorganised its image department “to ensure full alignment with our corporate guidelines.

Why is Balenciaga under fire?

The high fashion brand received backlash over a recent holiday ad campaign, which featured child models holding teddy bear handbags seemingly dressed in bondage and BDSM gear, including fishnet tops, studded leather harnesses, and collars with locks.

In a separate photoshoot for Balenciaga’s spring 2023 campaign, documents identified as being from the 2008 Supreme Court case, United States v Williams – which criminalised the pandering of child pornography – were used as props.

Read the full story here.

Balenciaga explained the excerpts from a 2008 Supreme Court case were provided by a third party most likely coming from the filming of a television drama.

On 28 November, the brand said the photoshoot set from its spring 2023 collaboration with Adidas was “meant to replicate a business office environment”.

The backdrop featured purses displayed atop the 2008 Supreme Court case United States v Williams, which criminalised the pandering of child pornography. According to Balenciaga, “all the items included in this shooting were provided by third parties that confirmed in writing that these props were fake office documents”.

“They turned out to be real legal papers most likely coming from the filming of a television drama,” Balenciaga continued. “The inclusion of these unapproved documents was the result of reckless negligence for which Balenciaga has filed a complaint.”

Kim Kardashian shared she is “re-evaluating” her relationship with Balenciaga. Since then, the Skims founder reportedly declined an offer to star in a new campaign for the brand amid the controversy.

According to TMZ, Kardashian allegedly turned down the offer, before issuing her public statement on Sunday.

The reality star has also reportedly made alternate clothing arrangements for upcoming events, after she was initially scheduled to appear in Balenciaga.