On January 22nd, Balenciaga officially names Kim Kardashian as its ambassador – a statement that does not come as a surprise for all of us.
Kim Kardashian Fronts Her First Balenciaga Campaign as Brand Ambassador
However, some of us are still taken back by this decision due to the incident in November 2022 when Kim decided to “reevaluate” her relationship with Balenciaga after the scandal. The brand released a controversial photos featuring their new collection with children holding teddy bears dressed in BDSM gear. The matter is eventually raised to the United States Supreme Court regarding child pornography laws, creating a huge wave of backlash from the public. Many celebrities including Kanye West, Bella Hadid, Julia Fox, and Cooper Kupp have boycotted the brand after the incident.
“For several years now, Balenciaga’s designs have been a part of my many looks and some of my most iconic fashion moments. This historic fashion house embraces modernity, craftsmanship and takes an innovative approach to design under Demna. For me, this long-standing relationship is built on mutual trust and a commitment to doing what’s right. I’m excited about this next chapter for the brand and to become their ambassador”, Kim shared.
Balenciaga controversial advertisement
“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. As a mother of four, I have been shaken by the disturbing images. The safety of children must be held with the highest regard and any attempts to normalize child abuse of any kind should have no place in our society. As for my future with Balenciaga, I am 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”, Kim shared.
Although Balenciaga made several apologies and set aside “a significant fund for grants to organizations” to “help make a difference in protecting children”, its sales continue to suffer. However, as we can see from Kim’s decision, it is no surprise that this is how the fashion industry works, from incidents such as Marc Jacobs in 2016, Burberry 2019, or Dolce & Gabbana 2018.