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

[Packingsoapandwater]

I've been following this situation for a while. What concerns me us that when something goes a little bit wrong on a video, Desmond gets very jumpy and alarmed as though he's scared of the consequences of his mistake.

All in all, from what I've seen, it's not a healthy set up at all. I really think there ought to be some sort of legislation governing the digital and media exposure of under-18s. Desmond just should not be in the public eye in this way.

[BadLady]

Whilst the campaign is weird and uncomfortable, it is also sad that Claire's has dropped him like a hot potato. He isn't old enough to understand the situation, and I imagine he found this quite hurtful.

[endofthelinefinally]

That poor child is being abused and exploited. In plain sight of every single person and authority that should be rescuing him.

[TheProdigalKittensReturn]

I just can't understand how anyone can see what's being done to this child and think it's something to celebrate. As someone said upthread, he reacts to small mistakes as if he's scared he's going to be punished, and he looks like he hasn't had a good nights sleep in months. That is not a happy, thriving child.

[wizzbangfizz]

I for one will not be going to Claire's again

[SarahTancredi]

Whilst the campaign is weird and uncomfortable, it is also sad that Claire's has dropped him like a hot potato. He isn't old enough to understand the situation, and I imagine he found this quite hurtful

Yes this upsets me too. But not sure what choice there was really. Its wrong to keep indulging the parents an being complicit in the exploitation of a vulnerable child. A child who is probably being told that everyone just hates him and doesnt understand him. Which of course isnt true at all. In fact many women have put their jobs and reputations at risk to try and stand up against what is happening to him and all the other innocent children being dragged into this crap. We care enough to do it even when his own parents dont.

[TheProdigalKittensReturn]

Now think about the long term mental and emotional impact of being told as a child that those who express concern about your wellbeing are trying to hurt you because they hate you, whereas those who are making money off of you have your best interests at heart.

[EstherEliza]

Ewe. Poor child. Exploited by his family, by men and now big companies. Shameful. Supporting the abuse of children is not inclusive.

[backseatcookers]

Have Claire's addressed this at all or just deleted everything?!

[FloralBunting]

Yes, Claire's need to be held to account on this. Ghosting him is not an adequate response to the criticism of their marketing decisions.

[endofthelinefinally]

I agree. Condoning and advertising child abuse is being complicit.

[Michelleoftheresistance]

I completely agree end

I'd add 'glamorising' and to condoning and advertising.

[MrsNoah2020]

It's not going down as well as it once did

Agree. And that gives me hope, but I fear it will be too late for kids like Desmond. It breaks my heart that a sparky, creative little boy has been pornified and objectified for the sexual pleasure of adults - in plain sight and with idiots like Claire's in full support

[Binterested]

Are there no Advertising Standards Agency regulations on using children in advertising ? Or child labour regulations ? I would have thought paying a child who has appeared at gay clubs for money and who is clearly vulnerable would be contrary to regulation. As well as clearly just appalling. The photograph is horrible anyway - a sad, dead eyed child. Yay Claire’s

[SarahTancredi]

Are there no Advertising Standards Agency regulations on using children in advertising ? Or child labour regulations ? I would have thought paying a child who has appeared at gay clubs for money and who is clearly vulnerable would be contrary to regulation. As well as clearly just appalling

Well if anyone on the office did raise it I expect security were called to remove them seems to be what happens. Pesky lesbians and their chairs

[MockersxxxxxxxSocialDistancing]

ASA Code:

4.1
Marketing communications must not contain
anything that is likely to cause serious or widespread offence. Particular care must be taken to avoid causing offence on the grounds of: age; disability; gender; gender reassignment; marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion or belief; sex; and sexual orientation. Compliance will be judged on the context, medium, audience, product and prevailing standards.

4.5
Marketing communications, especially those addressed to or depicting a child, must not condone or encourage an unsafe practice.

4.8
Marketing communications must not portray or represent anyone who is, or seems to be, under 18 in a sexual way. However, this rule does not apply to marketing communications whose principal function is to promote the welfare of, or to prevent harm to, under-18s, provided any sexual portrayal or representation is not excessive.

5.1
Marketing communications addressed to, targeted directly at or featuring children must contain nothing that is likely to result in their physical, mental or moral harm:

www.asa.org.uk/codes-and-rulings/advertising-codes/non-broadcast-code.html

And the guide on gender stereotyping seems distinctly Koolaid Flavoured:

www.asa.org.uk/uploads/assets/uploaded/f39a881f-d8c9-4534-95f180d1bfe7b953.pdf

[DrinkFeckArseGirls]

One more shop I’m not setting a foot in again (or rather buy from online as the current situation stands).

[backseatcookers]

As a PR I would a few years ago have been baffled that this wasn't widely picked up by the press and that Claire's haven't issued a response, instead essentially ghosting a child.

However having seen how things have changed the last few years I'm not baffled, I'm disappointed but not surprised.

So it really has come to this.

Imagine a little girl dancing in strip clubs for men. No uproar? No, because phobic.

Imagine a little girl miming snorting ketamine off her hand unprompted. No uproar? No, because phobic.

Skip to 0.58 nothing can make this ok. Nothing.

Imagine a little girl sitting next to a man who was literally convicted of murder and has confessed his guilt, under a poster that ACTAULLY says 'rohypnol'. No uproar? No, because phobic.

TWAW?

Children are children, protect them don't weaponise them and politicise them until they are as clearly unsafe and unhealthy as this little boy.

[blubellsarebells]

Jesus that video is worse than I remembered.
The pink line around his throat, the whole thing is just so sick and sinister.
Will be interesting to see if Claire's come up with a comment.

[YourVagesty]

I remember when this child came to public consciousness. He was on Good Morning America or something. I remember the host really bigging him up and he came storming out, full of drag queen sexy attitude and the audience were grinning and cheering like he was the best thing they'd ever seen.

It just made me hate people. It really did.

[andyoldlabour]

Normally, I would be able to make a comment on all this, but now I am completely at all odds.
We all know the authorities are all aware of this, so why have they been captured by this evil movement?

[sqirrelfriends]

@YourVagesty people love to congratulate themselves for being "woke", it's all about feeling good about yourself and being entertained. No one was thinking about the life of the child, I find that very depressing.

[Lordfrontpaw]

I wonder what little girls think of little boys dressing in this way? I think I would be pissed off at that age.

[Binterested]

Agree. I don’t think this is appealing to little girls. Is this Claire’s trying to pivot to the purpled haired young men who wear hair slides and say they are NB? Or worse - the Stefonee contingent who play at being little girls. Ugh. Vile.

[Lordfrontpaw]

I have just clicked who this child looks like.

Now this sounds completely weird - but there is a set of twins near us. They are women on their 60s (hard to tell) and you only ever see them together - sickly-stick thin, walking in step very purposely, arm in arm tight to each other, in black leggings and cropped tops with their long hair in a pig tail. Their faces are very pinched and they always seem to be gazing ahead. I’ve never seen them speak.

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