Nicole Kidman is lambasted for refusing to address Balenciaga’s BDSM child photo scandal
Nicole Kidman has been criticised for refusing to denounce Balenciaga, despite a controversy that saw the company linked to a shoot that placed children alongside BDSM-themed items.
The Australian actress, aged 55, is featured in the brand’s Spring 2023 campaign. It was released last week, just as the scandal broke.
Since then, Kidman has received calls from fans to her Instagram page in the comments section. They want her to either denounce the brand or issue a statement. But so far she has not responded because Kidman is still silent on the scandal.
‘Silence Is Deafening’: Nicole Kidman was criticized for failing to address Balenciaga’s BDSM child photos scandal after she worked with the brand (pictured at their FW22/23 show).
Underneath the post, which was simply captioned with tags to Balenciaga’s creative team, fans penned: ‘Shame on YOU’; ‘You look beautiful…and I’d drop that campaign like a hot potato.’; “WHERE IS YOUR STATEMENT”;
‘Oh sweet @nicolekidman , you best remove this & cut Ties with this company!! You are losing many fans. ;’You support that company?’ ;’You support that company?!’ So disappointed
‘Um- have always love you Nicole but I’m shocked you haven’t said ANYTHING about the horrendous photos that this brand you’re representing posted. Is this something you stand up for ???????Shame on you for continuing to do this.’; How can this be up? You support this brand?’; Why are you associated this company? Expected better:(‘
Brand: The Australian actress, 55, stars in the fashion brand’s Spring 2023 campaign, which was unveiled last week just as the scandal broke
Another fan mentioned Kim Kardashian’s statement about the brand. They wrote: “At least @kimkardashian have spoken out. Why is there such silence?Another quipped, “Not me searching for clues in background.”
Kidman, who shares daughters Sunday, 13, and Faith, 10, with husband Keith Urban and two adopted children with ex Tom Cruise was also asked how she’d feel if her children had been featured in the campaign.
MailOnline reached out to Kidman and Balenciaga in order to get their comments.
Speak out: Fans have since flooded the comment section of Kidman’s Instagram page with calls for her to denounce the brand or release a statement
The ads feature children’s toys wearing fishnet stockings and chokers as well as string vests and chains. Many people use social media to call it ‘child porn’ and ‘disturbing’.
The most shocking image of all is the one of an advertisement from the past. It’s pictured with a child in it and is tucked under a purse. This was the 2008 Supreme Court decision United States v Williams, which looked into whether laws against child pornography promotion were violative of the First Amendment.
This ruling ruled that offering or asking to transfer, sell or deliver child pornography was not a violation of the First Amendment to United States Constitution.
Disturbing: Among the clothing worn by the children’s toys in the ads are fishnet stockings, chokers, string vests and chains leading to many on social media to refer to it as ‘child porn’
Shocking: A portion of United States Supreme Court’s opinion in United States. Williams was featured in one of the ad photos. It supported a section of a federal child pornography legislation, which Twitter fact-checkers confirmed.
Justice Antonin Scalia of the late Justice Antonin Scalia specifically noted that First Amendment protection does not apply to illegal transactions.
According to court documents, ‘As the result of the misconduct of the Defendants, members the public, including journalists, have falsely and horribly associated Balenciaga the deeply troubling subject of the court verdict.
“Defendants are liable for any harm that results from this false association.”
The first ads were released at Paris Fashion Week in September and October. They were meant to promote the spring 2023 collection of the fashion house.
Balenciaga apologized publicly and said that it would remove the ad form all its social media accounts.
Balenciaga was clearly embarrassed by the campaign’s ill-judged execution and took drastic measures to wipe its social media pages.
“We are sorry for any offense caused by our holiday campaign. The campaign should not have included our plush bear bag with children. We have removed the campaign immediately from all platforms’, the luxury high-end house shared on Instagram.
Apology: Balenciaga posted a public apology on Instagram last week before deleting its social media history
Kim Kardashian made a statement about the brand after she had worked with them before (photo taken at Balenciaga Paris Fashion Week Show).
The father of a British child model has now defended the photoshoot. He previously told DailyMail.com that his daughter had an ‘fantastic’ time on set.
Balenciaga is often associated with A-list celebrities. However, in the wake of this latest scandal, Bella Hadid deleted an Instagram posting promoting the brand. But, she has left many others that promote Balenciaga.
Balenciaga was established by Cristobal Balenciaga, a Spanish monarchist. Demna Gvasalia, a Georgian native, is the current creative director.
Kering bought the company in 2001 from Gucci.
BALENCIAGA SCANDAL – BONDAGE BEARS CHILD PORN DOCKS AND AN EXPERT KNOWN FOR DEPICTING NAUSED KIDS
Christmas campaign by the Bondage Bears
Balenciaga’s holiday ad campaign for 2022 featured children with their Plush Toy bag. This scandal caused a commotion. These bags look just like teddy bears, and they are outfitted in BDSM gear.
The children were also surrounded by empty champagne and wine glasses during the photo shoot.
Many people were shocked by the explicit adult themes.
Balenciaga ignored the scandal at first and seemingly allowed the photographer who was involved, Gabriele Galimberti, to take the heat.
He Balenciaga eventually released its own statement, agreeing with him and claiming responsibility for the campaign.
It has been removed from the internet.
The secret porn of children
After Balenciaga’s other campaigns were also scrutinized closely after the BDSM fiasco.
They quickly discovered that a Supreme Court ruling regarding internet child porn was printed in the background of an image taken from Spring ’23 was the printout.
Many critics argued that the bears scandal pointed to a worrying pattern within Balenciaga.
Balenciaga blamed North Six Production Company, which helped to arrange the shoot for those documents, quickly.
They claimed that all props were given to North Six for photoshoot, and that the team was informed that everything included was fake.
The disturbing book by an artist whose artwork depicts naked, castrated toddlers
Balenciaga has yet to respond to the inclusion of Michael Borremans’ book in the background of two images from Spring ’23.
Borremans is an Belgian painter. His work includes the troubling 2017 series Fire. From The Sun.
It shows naked toddlers, some of whom are castrated, playing together and sometimes alone.
DailyMail.com has asked the brand’s lawyers about the story of how the book got on the photoshoot.
In this image from Balenciaga’s scrapped Spring ’23 campaign, Isabelle Huppert sits in front of a stack of books including one that celebrates Michael Borremans, a Belgian painter whose work is known to include depictions of castrated toddlers
Borremans also created the 2017 series Fire. From The Sun features castrated babies and toddlers holding what appear to be severed limbs while playing nude together in large groups.
