Balenciaga apologises for bondage bear advert involving child

Where are the left? Hiding under the table, or gleefully supporting. ‘Silence is violence’ you know.

I can’t believe that’s real!! I know it is but the whole thing- and now they’re making out it was a mistake as if the whole company didn’t have a theme they were aware of- following a show last year where they send models down the catwalk with bloody noses? Wtf? Do we think Kim k will be wearing the brand anymore? Or any other celebrities? I doubt it. Just can’t believe they’ve done that and fucked themselves over so badly!

Actually what is the position re child sexual imagery? Criminal offence might be better

Is child sexual abuse really something that could inhabit the 'edgy' genre in fashion?

I would say, sadly, yes.

There’s enough horror stories about underage models and abuse/exploitation so I think a lot of “fashion people” will just shrug and carry on as usual.

Companies like Balenciaga will have dedicated super rich clients- possibly any who are angered or horrified by this campaign will use their financial clout to have people removed (this is probably why the apology has come about i lm guessing) but as the very rich who favour their designs want to stick with their preferred brand so they will continue. And that’s assuming their customer base give a shit.

I think it’s easy to underestimate how little people actually care about the safety of children. History does not show it to be a priority. Which is the horror of it all.

As if the client wasn’t on set and signing this off. I’d love someone to get sued but it’s the client

Is child sexual abuse really something that could inhabit the 'edgy' genre in fashion?

A trip through the completely unrestrained RSE materials used here and in the States would suggest nothing is impossible.

Is child sexual abuse really something that could inhabit the 'edgy' genre in fashion?

The fact most comments here assume it's originated by an actual pedophile would seem to suggest not.

Bloody hell. I hope it ruins them.

Bullshit they are bringing charges against 'the creative' - for what? Fulfilling their brief to a high enough standard that the brand decided to sign off the pictures and put them into the world? Creatives don't just go 'oh I know, let's do this' on the day, every pixel has been briefed, mocked up and agreed before its shot. Client would have been on set too.

(That's not to say I absolve the creative for doing the shoot - as they are the ones taking the image they are directly doing harm. But it's nonsense for the instigator to 'take action' against them as they are equally culpable.)

I would bet my last tenner that someone (or several someones) involved in this has a sexual interest in children.

Absolutely - at least one person, and quite likely only one.

But what this demonstrates is him* feeling able to flaunt it and a huge chain of people involved in getting this thing to publication turning a blind eye to his behaviour.

(I originally wrote "them", then realised that it makes more sense to assume male here).

Everyone in art/drama/fashion live in a bubble. They push the boundaries, and think the small people (the general public) will comply, because they are super stars with vision and we are not but we are wannabes. We look at the glossy mags and try to buy a bit of the fantasy world they inhabit, which is why women pay an arm and a leg for an ugly bag with little function while they struggle to pay the electric bill. They will think this stuff is edgy/ironic but ok because it probably is in the inner circles of that world. If it was produced by a man in his mother's basement, they would see the light.

Exactly. They're not some random brand, they're a famous fashion house like Chanel or Dior. They're also well known for mad stuff like muddy catwalks or the models in masks. I don't think people who buy Balenciaga will care

I don't think the child's face should be blurred or obscured. One of the most unsettling things about those photos is that the child models look scared and unhappy.

I hope like heck that they had someone on the set saying 'now can we play a game where you pretend you're scared?' but given the rest of the context, I do wonder.

Very disturbing.

I agree someone knew, and should be investigated @cakeycakes In fact several someones.

Having now seen the more obvious pictures then yes, the parents and brand were also complicit (though still perhaps not aware of the degree of subtext).

Fucking A, I take that back. They are deliberately marketing themselves as abusers and fetishists!!

I think it will damage them permanently. There's nothing to be gained from supporting a brand connected to child abuse if your only interest is buying clothes.

Mermaids is different because the people supporting it actually agree with it.

The number of pedophiles who buy Balenciaga must be minuscule. And there are plenty of alternative brands.

So many people think this is ok- look at this Australian style magazine’s “wink wink, we are so edgy” comment below these photos. In plain site. Not only did Russh Magazine understand the theme, they commented on it like a joke.

This type of on the edge of abuse imagery has been going on in fashion since the early 90s, with the Calvin Klein/Kate Moss ads and many campaigns showing images that look like abused women. The models are getting younger and the fashion houses are getting bolder.

Agreed ApocalipstickNow. People won't shun the brand. Just look at the paedophile / porn scandal involving staff at the children's charity Mermaids . They're still going, still fund raising and none of their celebrity endorsers have made any even mild critical comments.
Child safeguarding is very low on people's agendas it seems.

The cynic in ne thinks this was deliberate to get people talking about the brand. Including the campaign only being up a small time.

Daily Mail is reporting it- this link contains photos of the children.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11459901/Balenciaga-apologizes-blames-photographer-disgusting-campaign.html

I don’t think people will shun the brand.

Balenciaga is a well established, successful, high end label - the name will ride this out because, quite frankly, not enough people care enough.

The BBC employed one of the worst abusers in recent history- fully embedded in the organisation not just a faceless nobody- not only are they still going they’re held as a trusted institution.

Where's Jon Stewart and Trevor Noah

You'll find them somewhere over the rainbow. Along with Colbert, John Oliver and everyone at MSNBC, CNN and ABC.

These people celebrate this stuff, or at least stick their fingers in their ears, stick a blindfold on and sing la, la la. Because if conservatives hate it, then it must be good.

I wonder if any of the parents of the kids knew it was a bondage set up, normally the parents are there for photo shoots so what on earth were they thinking not taking their kids out of the room when they started getting the bondage teddy bears out.

People have just lost their minds these days in the ever desperate attempt for fame.

No it is a failed campaign.

People who will remember this and will shun the brand.

There IS such thing as bad PR in cases like this. And yes. This was a team effort. It was not just the person they are looking to dismiss.

I honestly think it's a mistake to assume they were naive and clueless and didn't know. They may have told themselves it wasn't what it looked like, or allowed themselves to be persuaded as such to justify ignoring it and give themselves an out when it all blew up, but this wasn't an accident. I would bet my last tenner that someone (or several someones) involved in this has a sexual interest in children. When someone shows you who they are, believe them.