Balenciaga Apologizes For Ad Featuring 'Child Abuse' Documents

Source: Mike Kemp / Getty

Balenciaga has always been known for its over-the-top ambitious ideas but sometimes a track record for taking risks can come back and haunt you.

Balenciaga’s over-the-top marketing has kept the brand going viral every fashion week thanks to its outlandish pieces. Recently the brand went viral for its latest handbag which was literally a Lays potato chip bag. No one would have a logical use for the item but it still hit shelves for $1800 with customers ready to purchase. Earlier this year, the brand held a fashion show at the New York Stock Exchange that went full hardcore BDSM latex-inspired fashion.

Even with Balenciaga’s extreme branding, they drew the line at Kanye West’s recent comments but now they’ve found themselves in the center of the drama.

Balenciaga Apologizes For Recent Ad Featuring ‘Child Abuse’ Documents & Children In Odd Environments

Balenciaga is currently facing extreme backlash over its latest ad featuring kids. When you hear children mentioned in a Balenciaga ad eyebrows immediately raise but this is worse than anything you could have imagined.

The ad had hidden easter eggs from the US Supreme Court opinion involving the United States v. Williams which upheld parts of a federal child pornography law.

Additionally, the children were holding plush teddy bears dressed in what looked like BDSM-inspired outfits and one of the children was pictured with an assortment of empty wine glasses.

The accusations from Twitter users caught so much traction that the social media site added a shocking disclaimer. Under the first tweet pointing it out, Twitter added context stating it was a real ad from Balenciaga and the documents pictured weren’t doctored.

Balenciaga went on to apologize, twice.

In the first apology the fashion house wrote;

“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.”

They then posted a further statement on Instagram apologizing for displaying “unsettling documents” in a separate campaign, referring to documents from a Supreme Court case relating to child pornography laws.

“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. We strongly condemn abuse of children in any form. We stand for children safety and well-being.”

Even with the apology, social media users pointed out how the brand cut ties with Kanye West for less and the apology seems to have made the situation worse.