A Calvin Klein ad featuring a trans man posing in a sports bra has sparked furious backlash after going viral online.
In a promotional snap shared by the brand, long known for sultry and sexy ads featuring toned topless models, Bappie Kortram can be seen wearing a pair of jeans and a sports bra.
Bappie, who is from the Netherlands, is represented by a number of modeling agencies around the world, including Britain’s Zebedee Talent, who describes him as “a trans man who hasn’t had surgery yet “.
The ad, originally shared as part of the Calvin Klein Pride 2022 campaign, went viral this week after being reposted on Twitter by Dr. Anastasia Maria Loupis, who posted: “Calvin Klein wants to go bankrupt.”
Footage from the same shoot is still used on Calvin Klein’s UK site.
Other users were stunned by the ad, writing: “Disgusting and I love Calvin Klein jeans.” It’s not a good advertisement for her clothes at all. Stop complying with all these demands, because it will only hurt your brand in the long run.
A Calvin Klein ad featuring a trans man posing in a sports bra has sparked a backlash after going viral online
The brand has long been known for its sultry and sexy adverts featuring toned topless models (pictured, a previous ad)
Another added: “The bra/beard thing confuses me. If he’s trying to be more feminine, why keep the beard or does this transwoman have a beard?
‘Is he just gay and wearing a bra because he’s overweight and thinks it’s cute? So many questions. Lol.’
A third wrote: ‘Wow this makes clothes look ugly. I thought ads made things attractive and ambitious? »
Another commented: “It’s good for them, they feel so good about themselves, but I don’t think most people find it physically appealing or want to see it.” I don’t know !
“No thanks Calvin Klein, enjoy your time with Bud Light!”
Another wrote: ‘This can’t be legit. Come on. Let me wake up from this nightmare.
One added: “Raw. Far from their high fashion adverts.
“I don’t understand why they want to promote ugly,” one commented while another wrote, “Must like about 10 people.”
“In their attempt to appease a tiny minority, they are alienating a huge majority!” another wrote.
However, others defended the ad, with one commenting that it was “the first time they felt like a Calvin Klein model”.
Bappie shared a message last year when the images were first taken, revealing how happy he was to be featured by the famous brand.
The snapshot went viral online after a Twitter user shared the snapshot on the social media platform
He wrote: ‘There aren’t enough words in any language to describe how much I love Jamilla and how much this shoot means to both of us.
‘The fact that we have been selected for the Calvin Klein Pride Collection makes us proud on many levels cross
‘1.We were both about to enter new chapters in our lives. Jamilla and her gastric sleeve and my next surgery. These are beautiful memories (and udders! lol)
‘2. To highlight shameless fat love, fat pride, cis fat bodies, trans fat bodies, fat joy.
‘3. That all trans bodies are good bodies. The CK team was so kind to let me wear bras and a bodysuit.
“I think it’s important to show that trans male bodies with boobs should be celebrated and that masculinity doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate female items.”
He continued, “I hope these photos inspire you all to be happier and more proud of your body, of your gayness, of everything you’re doing right now!”
He ended his post by thanking the brand.
Social media users were stunned by the announcement, with some questioning whether it was really a promotional photo for Calvin Klein
The image went viral weeks after Bud Light entered damage control over a partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
Mulvaney sparked widespread furor in April with a post of her sitting in a bathtub while drinking a personalized Bud Light can emblazoned with her face.
She posted under the hashtag #budlightpartner to coincide with the NCAA March Madness tournament, before joking that she didn’t know what sport she was promoting.
The disastrous marketing offer saw sales of America’s flagship beer drop 20% week-on-week.
And there have also been calls to boycott Adidas following its use of a biologically male model to promote a women’s swimsuit in its “Pride 2023” collection.
The sportswear giant has been furious with fans who have accused it of making fun of women when it unveiled an advert for the £50 swimsuit which is part of its campaign to ‘support inclusive values’ .
But disenfranchised fans continued to criticize the ‘woke’ company, with some encouraging customers to ‘burn’ their Adidas Gazelle trainers in protest.
