Shot by photographer Gabriele Galimberti, photos linked to the Balenciaga Gift Shop marketing campaign featured younger youngsters dressed within the Balenciaga Kids line.
According to the unique press launch issued final week, the “campaign iterates on the artist’s series Toy Stories, an exploration of what people collect and receive as gifts.”
In its unique press launch, the corporate mentioned that the road featured “dozens of new products ranging from homeware, petwear and scent, from everyday items to limited-edition collectibles and bespoke furniture.”
But there was an offended response on social media to the photographs which featured younger youngsters with plush teddy bear luggage wearing what appeared like BDSM-inspired outfits. One little one is pictured with an assortment of empty wine glasses.
One Twitter person wrote: “Balenciaga may have “apologized” but everyone knows that campaign got past people at the highest level. This is a publicity strategy, trying to get attention with controversial content. I do not accept their apology and never will. It’s NEVER okay to sexualize kids.”
“We sincerely apologize for any offense our holiday campaign may have caused,” the assertion mentioned.
“Our plush bear bags should not have been featured with children in this campaign. We have immediately removed the campaign from all platforms.”
Photographer Galimberti advised Act Daily News in an announcement Wednesday that the route and capturing of the marketing campaign had been out of his fingers.
“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 chose (sic) the products, nor the models, nor the combination of the same.
“As a photographer, I used to be solely and solely requested to lit (sic) the given scene, and take the photographs in keeping with my signature type.
“As usual, the direction of the campaign and of the shooting are not on the hands of the photographer.”
He added: “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. Lynching like these are addressed against wrong targets, and distract from the real problem, and criminals.”
‘We stand for youngsters security’
Hours after issuing the apology, Balenciaga posted an extra assertion on Instagram apologizing for displaying “unsettling documents” in a separate marketing campaign, referring to paperwork from a Supreme Court case referring to little one pornography legal guidelines.
“We apologize for displaying unsettling documents in our campaign. We take this matter very seriously and are taking legal action against the parties responsible for creating the set and including unapproved items for our Spring 23 campaign photoshoot,” the corporate mentioned.
“We strongly condemn abuse of children in any form. We stand for children safety and well-being.”
Galimberti mentioned he had “no connection with the photo where a Supreme Court document appears.”
Just final month Balenciaga severed ties with the rapper previously often known as Kanye West after a sequence of antisemitic posts and controversial feedback.
Act Daily News has contacted Kering, Balenciaga’s mother or father firm, for remark.