Kim Kardashian Faces Backlash For Her Response to Balenciaga's Controversial Ads

Published on 11/28/2022 at 4:00 PM

Kim Kardashian responded to the controversy surrounding Balenciaga's now-condemned gift collection ads. The campaign featured children carrying plush teddy bears that were dressed in BDSM gear, such as leather harnesses. Meanwhile, its spring 2023 images, released closely in time, were staged in an office environment and included a visible court document on child pornography. "I appreciate Balenciaga's removal of the campaigns and apology," she posted to her Instagram Story on Sunday, Nov. 27. "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."

Social media users immediately took Kardashian to task, claiming she isn't doing enough to sever ties with the label. "Marrying the right person is so important that fact that Kim kardashian was quick to denounce kanye over his statements on Jews but not quickly denounce her ties to Balenciaga over their child pedo campaign tells you that she cares more about money than keep her family together," one Twitter user commented. "People really expected Kim Kardashian to condemn Balenciaga ... when she let them put 9-year-old North West in a gimp mask for fashion week LAST MONTH," pointed out another.

POPSUGAR has reached out to Balenciaga for comment. At the time of publishing, fellow Balenciaga spokespeople Bella Hadid and Nicole Kidman have yet to remove the spring '23 ad campaigns from their personal accounts or release a statement. French actress Isabelle Huppert deleted her more recent work for the French fashion house from her feed, though the shots she posted in June are still present.

Keep scrolling for an update on the controversy surrounding the Balenciaga child ad campaign.

Balenciaga Issues an Apology For Its Holiday Campaign

The apology was posted to Balenciaga's Story Highlights and creative director Demna's feed on Wednesday, Nov. 23, two days after the images began circulating the internet on Nov. 21. The 41-year-old Georgian fashion designer has been at the helm of the label since 2015, when he succeeded Alexander Wang. He famously collaborated with Kanye West on his 2021 "Donda" album listening event, though the brand has since cut ties with the singer. He also walked the Met Gala steps with Kardashian the same year, when she arrived masked in black fabric from head to toe.

Kim Kardashian Responds to the Balenciaga Child Ad Campaign

Kardashian, 42, posted her response to the campaign on her Instagram Story on Sunday, Nov. 27. Five days before, following the release of the controversial ads, Kardashian posed in the Balenciaga/Adidas collection, which Twitter users were quick to point out. "So @kimkardashian posts a full balenciaga/Adidas look in the midst of @balenciaga parading babies for child porn and we're supposed to think Kanye is the rotten one," one user wrote.

Kim Kardashian Responds to the Balenciaga Child Ad Campaign

Kardashian shared that she is reevaluating her relationship with the brand after a long-standing, mutually beneficial partnership. Recently, the Skims mogul supported Balenciaga's spring 2023 runway show by modeling a belted minidress from home; starred in the winter 2022 campaign; and walked the couture runway in July alongside Dua Lipa, Naomi Campbell, and Kidman. Previously, she arrived at the fall 2022 show to sit front row in branded yellow caution tape.

Photographer Gabriele Galimberti Responds to the Balenciaga Child Ad Campaign

Galimberti, who was enlisted to photograph Balenciaga's "Toy Story" holiday campaign, posted a statement to his Instagram on Wednesday, Nov. 23, separating himself from the spring 2023 image, which featured a court document about child-pornography laws. He clarified that he did not take the photo in which that document appeared.