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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Balenciaga apologises for bondage bear advert involving child

486 replies

PandorasMailbox · 23/11/2022 06:34

They're also taking legal action against its creator

What I want to know is who the hell signed it off and why were the parents happy to let it go ahead?

I've included the images for anyone who hasn't seen them.

Balenciaga apologises for bondage bear advert involving child
Balenciaga apologises for bondage bear advert involving child
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MoirasSaggyBundles · 26/11/2022 14:35

NY Post saying Balenciaga has filed a $25m suit against North Six, inc, the producers of the ad and set designer Nicholas Des Jardins

nypost.com/2022/11/25/balenciaga-files-25m-suit-against-bdsm-teddy-bear-ad-producers/

Clymene · 26/11/2022 14:36

Magentax · 26/11/2022 12:19

This is all going to the NSPCC's new line that children have only been abused if they didn't like what happened to them

Where do they say that?

Here's the thread about it with a screenshot

www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/3611569-Is-NSPCC-school-guidance-for-kids-re-sexual-abuse-shifting-the-Overton-Window-Need-expert-advise-to-break-this-down

IvyTwines · 26/11/2022 14:47

@MoirasSaggyBundles looks like it's for the legal document photoshoot. I doubt they could reasonably claim in court they didn't notice the bears in the other photoshoot!

MarshaBradyo · 26/11/2022 15:13

MoirasSaggyBundles · 26/11/2022 14:35

NY Post saying Balenciaga has filed a $25m suit against North Six, inc, the producers of the ad and set designer Nicholas Des Jardins

nypost.com/2022/11/25/balenciaga-files-25m-suit-against-bdsm-teddy-bear-ad-producers/

I’d love to know what went on to get the documents in there

MoirasSaggyBundles · 26/11/2022 15:51

“As a result of Defendants’ misconduct, members of the public, including the news media, have falsely and horrifically associated Balenciaga with the repulsive and deeply disturbing subject of the court decision,”

I guess the defence will be that, a company that produces a bag that looks like a child's toy twisted into deviant sex imagery doesn't have much of a reputation that can be damaged by a publicly available court document sitting virtually anonymously on a table.

It will all be about the surrounding evidence: the brief given to the producers, the licence for creative autonomy, whether any specific breach of contract has occurred, what checking pre release procedures are in place at the company etc. Just in terms of a timeline of what's bought the negative attention onto Balenciaga, the bears and the kids holding them is the first and foremost image that has done this, I believe. The rest of the fine details came out after that negative publicity, by members of the public doing after the event sleuthing. Any defence would claim that the damage was done by the bears/kids before anyone looked at the other props on the set.

The other props in the other ads- the book, the certificate with the child rapist's name, and, I believe paperwork pertaining to a Washington based company that is connected with some child disappearances - how does Balenciaga explain these, if the producers of those ads were a different entity? Are they just very, very unfortunate to keep engaging with pervert contractors sending out secret Easter eggs to pedos; or are they in fact briefing these outsourced producers in a way that makes them believe anything goes?

ArabellaScott · 26/11/2022 16:28

As a result of Defendants’ misconduct, members of the public, including the news media, have falsely and horrifically associated Balenciaga with the repulsive and deeply disturbing subject of the court decision,”

Balenciaga has fostered a brand that promotes boundary-blurring. It produces teddy bears, children's toys, wearing bondage outfits. Nobody is buying the line that Balenciaga is the victim, here.

Magentax · 26/11/2022 16:33

Christ that’s appalling

ArabellaScott · 26/11/2022 16:46

Magentax · 26/11/2022 16:33

Christ that’s appalling

The slide in question - the purple background with [Sexual Abuse] 'when a child is being made, asked, or rewarded for doing anythign with their body that frightens or worries them' - is still there, as part of the presentation they make in schools.

learning.nspcc.org.uk/services/speak-out-stay-safe#skip-to-content

ArabellaScott · 26/11/2022 16:47

Hm, links not taking you to the correct page. In the sidebar on the left, click on 'What we cover, key stage 2', and scroll down.

DysonSpheres · 26/11/2022 18:01

how does Balenciaga explain these, if the producers of those ads were a different entity? Are they just very, very unfortunate to keep engaging with pervert contractors sending out secret Easter eggs to pedos; or are they in fact briefing these outsourced producers in a way that makes them believe anything goes?

Indeed. It's an interesting question for sure

deepwatersolo · 26/11/2022 18:44

Indeed. Balenziaga markets a BDSM Teddy Bear. What ad campaign do they expect to be built around such a product?

Blister · 26/11/2022 19:54

VestofAbsurdity · 26/11/2022 11:03

There was an article in the Mail yesterday whereby the father of one the children did the It was all fine and lovely, the children were happy, it was a great day, we would have removed our children if we thought it wasn't, people are reading too much into it stuff. He stood up for the photographer, said the staging had nothing to do with the photographer.

The question he failed to address was: why were children being used in the first place to advertise adult products? Those ugly bags are not aimed at children nor is any of the other stuff in the photographs, this father obviously can't and won't accept that his child has been used to promote something that the overwhelming majority of sensible parents would say an absolute NO to.

Seems like some parents need reminding that the "I'm alright, Jack" attitude can only be taken by competent adults...
Children don't always know when things are borderline unacceptable. You have to teach it to them...

MoirasSaggyBundles · 26/11/2022 20:53

No three year old should have had any frame of reference to understand that any of the props in that shoot and the disgusting bears were nefarious. The adults in the room should have been making the decision for them that their participation was inappropriate because of the surroundings they were placed in. This was a complete failure in parenting.

Valeriekat · 26/11/2022 21:23

The supreme court ruling is about "virtual" (I assume cgi or similar) being protected first amendment rights.

So clearly not accidental.

picklemewalnuts · 27/11/2022 07:10

The photographer doesn't walk away from this blameless though, given that tweet about porn and guns. I can't remember the wording but seemed to suggest restricting either was unreasonable.

Changechangychange · 27/11/2022 11:07

picklemewalnuts · 27/11/2022 07:10

The photographer doesn't walk away from this blameless though, given that tweet about porn and guns. I can't remember the wording but seemed to suggest restricting either was unreasonable.

Thought that was a badly-worded comment in favour of increased gun restrictions - that Americans don’t want to sexualise children bit are quite happy for them to shoot each other.

Has to be taken in the context of right-wing American conservative pearl clutching about teenage girls’ virginity and clothing (daddy promise rings, girls being sent home from the prom for showing their shoulders), and complete equanimity about 15 year old boys having unfettered access to a garage full of assault rifles. I agree it makes no sense in the UK, but we don’t really have either problem here.

picklemewalnuts · 27/11/2022 13:25

Ok, I completely misread that! Poor guy. I thought he was saying we should be equally able to access guns and porn, and was displaying his gun collection as evidence!

He likes displays of stuff, doesn't he? There's a bird he reminds me of, that displays its treasures for potential mates to inspect.

OhBeAFineGuyKissMe · 27/11/2022 13:28

picklemewalnuts · 27/11/2022 13:25

Ok, I completely misread that! Poor guy. I thought he was saying we should be equally able to access guns and porn, and was displaying his gun collection as evidence!

He likes displays of stuff, doesn't he? There's a bird he reminds me of, that displays its treasures for potential mates to inspect.

The Bowerbird.

Janie143 · 27/11/2022 17:06

www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11468557/amp/Father-British-child-model-posed-bondage-themed-Balenciaga-campaign-defends-photoshoot.html British father of one of the child models doesn't see a problem with it. Sick

LexMitior · 27/11/2022 17:47

These photos are absolutely unsettling and grim. What kind of parent can't see that?

A really worrying one.

Blister · 27/11/2022 19:18

I'm also guilty of this "the children are badly parenting" sometimes .

Blister · 27/11/2022 19:19

Happy. Not badly.

nilsmousehammer · 27/11/2022 19:28

Social services spend a lot of time and money intervening to protect children from situations their parents were perfectly happy to put them in, and saw nothing wrong with. Parenting classes possibly needed there.

LexMitior · 27/11/2022 20:08

It's not just the bears, it's the rest of it. Wine? Open windows, teeny leather boots, dog leads, blindfolds, straps, gaffer tape??

You would have to be blind.

Clymene · 27/11/2022 20:11

Eve if you're not holding the photographer entirely responsible (and I'm not), he could have said he was uncomfortable. He would have had to tell the children to look sad. Or scared. Or whatever expression they're supposed to be making.

He may be being used as a scapegoat but he isn't a blameless bystander either.