Desmond I Amazing in marketing campaign for Claire's

[SunsetBeetch]

Firstly, have to say I have nothing but sympathy for Desmond, who I believe is being exploited by his parents.

But is this appropriate for a company that sells accessories to teenage girls?

"Retailer of toys and accessories aimed at girls, Claire's, has recruited 12 year old drag act Desmond Is Amazing to do its marketing. A former chair of PIE said he was turned on when Desmond danced sexually for adults. Claire's has deleted this tweet but kept its Facebook post up t.co/tbYJxvrefM "

twitter.com/ripx4nutmeg/status/1263360087894175751?s=19

Claire's just gives the usual "We are inclusive and kind blah blah blah" response to any criticism

[Lordfrontpaw]

How did I guess he lives in NY?

[OneEpisode]

This was Claire’s in the US and Desmond lives in the bluest of blue states, New York. The UK Claire’s didn’t retweet.

[StealthPolarBear]

Poor kid. How can so many see what is happening and yet nothing can be done.

[SarahTancredi]

All the more strange it's been deleted I mean no one they need to be bothered about cares..

[Lordfrontpaw]

But there are screenshots. Shame agencies like NSPCC wouldn’t bat an eye.

[SarahTancredi]

Just deleted the post and erased as if it never happened. It's a highly newsworthy story, I can only imagine publications are scared of being called phobic by even reporting it

90 percent of the comments on their face book page are missing. They are erasing any sign of it or any hint anything even happend

[Lordfrontpaw]

They have paid for the campaign so is it running somewhere? I don’t know if they trade in the US.

[backseatcookers]

I can't believe Claire's have managed to avoid any public statement on this whatsoever. Nothing.

Just deleted the post and erased as if it never happened. It's a highly newsworthy story, I can only imagine publications are scared of being called phobic by even reporting it.

If a young girl had been picked up and mercilessly dropped by a global brand due to outrage over her having been previously sexualised, aware of drugs, interviews with murderers etc then it would quite rightly be reported.

How are people not being held accountable for these mammoth fuck ups in PR? I have a PR agency. My god, it's the stuff of nightmares this level of bad decision making and yet there seem to have been no consequences or even no public recognition of what has happened.

[JoeExoticsEyebrowRing]

Desmond is at the start of adolescence

Desmond has been around for a few years now, and its so hard to believe that he is still not even yet a teenager. The way he has been exploited is just horrendous.

[OneEpisode]

Desmond is at the start of adolescence, an age when many of us don’t look our best. This isn’t a no-name model though, this is a “Brand” Claire’s have chosen to align with.

[Lordfrontpaw]

I remember the heroin chic look a few years back.

Kiddy shops should use child models with little rosy & chubby cheeks and gap-toothed grins. Kids that look happy and - well ‘child like’. I want my child to be happy and healthy. To squeal with joy when they get a surprise toy or find their favourite character on a t-shirt. To hop up and down when you tell them you are taking them to their favourite store. To not sleep for days before their birthday party because they are so excited. To nag you to let them but their best mate the same toy that you just got them - so they can be ‘twins’. The usual little kid stuff.

Not look painfully thin and have an adult face.

[WeetabixBananaHipsterFFS]

It’s the thinness, the shape of the face, the long look that reminds me of this child.

I know what you mean, and I’m uncomfortable with comments on his ‘unhealthy’ appearance because I suspect that his neurodiverse-ness and his unusual physical characteristics are probably related to some sort of rare syndrome-type thing. (I’ve no relevant qualifications, just an idea based on observation and life experience.)

Regarding his parents and the adults around him, I agree with most of what PPs have written.

[Lordfrontpaw]

Are they in New York? That wouldn’t surprise me there.

[JoeExoticsEyebrowRing]

I wonder if his parents have ever been reported to US social services?

Yes, they have, several times.

Apparently a little boy simulating drug use and being taken to nightclubs to perform in the middle of the night is nothing to worry about 🤷‍♀️

[Pacmanitee]

Yes I agree they do, what I meant by make that decision was that it implies he was influenced by drag culture from watching it rather than just did the same as most little ones do when they see something on the telly.

[MarshaBradyo]

I hadn’t heard of him but reading this thread I feel sorry for him, poor boy.

[MingeofDeath]

@ YourVagesty
Apparently there have been loads of reports to social services. Obviously they are not concerned

[HeIsAVeryBadBoy]

Sqirrel exactly, all about themselves. And all about having the 'right' reaction too for the weaker minded.

[YourVagesty]

I wonder if his parents have ever been reported to US social services?

[Aesopfable]

A bit off topic and I don't believe it at all but what person in their right mind would let their two year old watch drag race?

This

[Lordfrontpaw]

I don’t think mum and dad sound like the type of parents who would be taking the kids to Gymboree, Mini Mandarin and BabyBoogieMusic, and then off the parent and toddlers group in FrouFrou coffee shop for a bambinochino and organic oat muffin.

[sqirrelfriends]

When he was two, he was inspired by and began imitating the drag queens on RuPaul's Drag Race by fashioning household items into dresses and wigs.

A bit off topic and I don't believe it at all but what person in their right mind would let their two year old watch drag race? The language alone would be enough...

[skql]

same way to supporting college fund by being sugar daddy?

[Lordfrontpaw]

Maybe they are just supporting the arts. College fund and all that...

[Pertella]

If you see anything sexual in a little boy gyrating on a nightclub stage at 3am in the morning whilst grown men throw money at him, then YOU'RE the paedo