Kim Kardashian was 'shaken' by Balenciaga campaign, 'reevaluating' brand ties post controversial bondage ad
Kim Kardashian attends the 2022 Baby2Baby Gala presented by Paul Mitchell at Pacific Design Center on November 12, 2022 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)
Kim Kardashian spoke out against her beloved Balenciaga brand Sunday, nearly one week after controversial ad campaigns were pulled featuring imagery of children holding teddy bears in sexually suggestive costumes.
"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," she shared across her social media platforms.
"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."
While Kim said she was happy the ads were removed, she wasn't ready to give up on the luxury company entirely and will wait to see what kind of "accountability" Balenciaga takes going forward.
"I appreciate Balenciaga’s removal of the campaigns and apology," she wrote. "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."
She added, "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 starred in the Fall/Winter 2022 campaign, and has been a loyal follower of the designs from the Spanish haute couture brand.
Balenciaga pulled the controversial photos last week, which showed two young girls holding stuffed animals that were wearing leather harnesses. Part of the set allegedly included documents from a US Supreme Court case involving a federal child pornography law.
They wrote an apology on Instagram stories, and then scrubbed their account of all images.
"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 brand wrote.
They also apologized for "displaying unsettling documents" in their campaign, adding that they "take this matter very serious and are taking legal action against the parties responsible for creating the set and including unapproved items for our spring 23 campaign photoshoot."
"We strongly condemn abuse of children in any form. We stand for children safety and well-being," they said.
The images, created by photographer Gabriele Galimberti, were part of a project called "Toy Stories." Galimberti issued a statement saying he was "not entitled in whatsoever manner to neither chose the products, nor the models, nor the combination of the same."
He continued, "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."
Kim was one of the many stars to storm the runway at Balenciaga's 51st Couture Collection show, where she wore a skin-tight, black dress with a plunging neckline and gloves.
Creative director Demna also enlisted the help of Nicole Kidman, Dua Lipa, Naomi Campbell, Bella Hadid and "Selling Sunset" star Christine Quinn to unveil his second couture collection for Balenciaga.
Kim's daughter sat front row at the show alongside Jenner, Anna Wintour, Emily Ratajkowski, Tracee Ellis Ross, Offset, Luka Sabbat and celebrity stylist Law Roach.
Ye, previously known as Kanye West, opened the fashion house's Paris Fashion Week runway in October. Nearly two weeks later, Kering, the parent company, completely severed ties with West following antisemitic remarks he made online and in public.