Balenciaga apologises for bondage bear advert involving child

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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.

That was my thought too. We always get accused of lying or exaggerating.

This stuff is being flaunted in our faces while they laugh at us and abuse vulnerable kids. It's horrific.

This. The investigation needs to happen. Are paedophiles at the bottom of this? If so, what are their names? How many people were complicit?

It's so blatant.

Her parents would have been on set when these pictures were taking.

How shocking they didn't put a stop to it at the time.

This wasn't the only example, but I do remember there being almost a wave of racist ads or trends or campaigns (not sure of the fashion term) a few years ago. All accompanied by widespread outrage. This is one of them but it's just one:

www.thesun.co.uk/news/8372460/gucci-blackface-twitter-racist-sweater/

Is the fashion industry now going to decide that BDSM and court cases about child sexual abuse are fashion? Or - worse(??) - are they doing it to get publicity? The racist ads got a lot of publicity.

I agree Tucker shouldn't say "kiddie porn". I thought that a crime in the US was "child pornography" (may not now be or may still be??) so that may be where that term comes from. For clarity, I wouldn't use the terms he does, I just wonder if it's somehow come from their laws.

The inclusion of the court docs in the photo is extremely disturbing.

Yes, it's not just to shock, is it? Looks like a (not very) secret political message, to normalise child abuse or titillate other pedophiles.

I had seen the pics, but hadn’t heard about the court doc.
Disgusting.
But surely balenciaga signed off on it?
I don’t understand how it’s not ultimately their fault/down to them?

Parents, and many of those who signed off, won't be aware of the docs or the black eye references.

Parents will have thought 'punk bear'.

I found the images unsettling but wasn't sure why. I'd have accepted 'edgy', I think.

People with more awareness on here have spelled out the problem and challenged the brand thank goodness.

Are we supposed to be pleased that they are bringing charges ?

That somehow they are now absolved of any responsibility despite the fact that numerous people in their staff would have signed off on this along the way. Not to mention the many people who must have been present whilst the photos were being taken including the parents of the child.

Why are they acting like the victims. The only victim here is the child.

It's disgusting. But I'm shocked at the number of times I've seen this advert posted without concealing the child's face on forums; surely if you want to raise awareness and get people speaking up against it, the first thing you do it protect the child's identity by hiding their face

How can they possibly bring charges? They signed off on it.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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).

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.