Kim K. finally speaks out about the Balenciaga controversy
After receiving criticism over an ad campaign, reality TV star Kim Kardashian says she is reconsidering her partnership with luxury house Balenciaga. Balenciaga’s latest ad campaign attracted significant controversy concerning the teddy bears modelled as BDSM and held by Children.
“I have been quiet for the past few days, not because I haven’t been disgusted and outraged by the recent Balenciaga campaigns, but because I wanted an opportunity to speak to their team to understand for myself how this could have happened,” Kim stated in a statement.
In a recent interview, Kim Kardashian said that she is “currently re-evaluating my relationship with the brand, basing it off their willingness to accept accountability for something that should have never happened to begin with — & the actions I am expecting to see them take to protect children.”
“I appreciate Balenciaga’s removal of the campaigns and apology. In speaking with them, I believe they understand the seriousness of the issue and will take the necessary measures for this to never happen again,” Kim stated.
A statement was released by the photographer who took the photos. Gabriele Galimberti posted a message on Instagram Wednesday morning after the offensive commercial was pulled by the fashion house, “Following the hundreds of hate mails and messages I received as a result of the photos I took for the Balenciaga campaign, I feel compelled to make this statement,”
He went on to say, “I am not in a position to comment [on] Balenciaga’s choices, but I must stress that I was not entitled in whatsoever manner to neither choose the products, nor the models, nor the combination of the same,”
He said that he could only light the set and shoot in his “signature style,” adding that he had no say in the ” “direction of the campaign and the choice of the objects displayed” Galimberti remarked, “I suspect that any person prone to pedophilia searches on the web and has, unfortunately, a too easy access to images completely different than mine, absolutely explicit in their awful content,” Galimberti said.
Galimberti argued that the “lynching” he has received is aimed at the wrong party “and distract from the real problem, and criminals.” Balenciaga has subsequently withdrawn the contentious advertising and apologised for the distressing imagery.
A representative for the luxury apparel firm told a leading newspaper, “We sincerely apologize for any offense our holiday campaign may have caused. Our plush bear bags should not have been featured with children in this campaign. We have immediately removed the campaign from all platforms.“