Balenciaga’s creative director apologizes after campaign accused of sexualising children

More than two weeks after Balenciaga’s advertising campaign was called child pornography, the fashion house’s creative director, Georgian Demna Gvasalia (now known as Demna), has apologized. A master of provocation and the author of disturbing parades that carry social messages, Demna is in the hot seat after this campaign, which features children and accessories with sexual connotations.

“I personally want to apologize for the poor artistic choice (…) And I take my responsibility”, he wrote on Friday, December 2, on Instagram. “If sometimes I wanted to provoke with my work, I never intended to do it with such a terrible topic as child abuse, which I condemn.”he continues.

In some of the images, which were pulled more than a week ago, we can see a child standing on a couch or bed holding a bag in the shape of a bear with black straps, inspired by BDSM. Or slavery, a masochistic sexual practice. Balenciaga’s muse, American social media star Kim Kardashian, has said she wants to “Revaluation” His relationship with the luxury brand after this campaign.

Brand withdraws complaint

In social networks, Internet users also noted that in another photo, a bag obtained as a result of cooperation with Adidas is placed in an office environment, on documents where excerpts are printed about the decision of the Supreme Court. American on child pornography.

while receiving “Full responsibility for lack of monitoring and control”Balenciaga said earlier this week that it was “complained” for that “The inclusion of these invalid documents is the result of irresponsible negligence”. The house’s general manager, Cedric Sharbit, finally announced that the brand “Decided not to take legal action”In a statement posted on Instagram Friday evening, he also apologized “personally”.

According to New York Post, The lawsuit, filed in New York courts, was directed against the production house North Six and set designer Nicolas de Jardin and demanded $25 million in damages.

The controversy comes at a bad time for Balenciaga, as the brand has already had to cut ties with rapper Kanye West following his anti-Semitic excesses in October. Three weeks earlier, he opened the Balenciaga show in Paris.