Balenciaga issued a second statement amid the growing backlash over its bondage ads featuring minor children.
The 2nd statement comes after the fashion brand filed a $25 million lawsuit against the production company and set director behind the controversial photo shoot.
The images show children as young as 3 holding teddy bears dressed in bondage gear. One image showed partially hidden court documents about the controversial Supreme Court child p0rn case.
Balenciaga shut down comments on all of its social media pages on Friday after scrubbing every campaign image from its pages.
The campaign was meant to promote the brand’s 2023/24 Spring/Summer Collection.
In its initial apology statement, Balenciaga claimed the ad campaign featured “unapproved” content.
“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. 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.”
However, Gabriela Moussaieff, agent for the set director Nicholas Des Jardins, told the New York Post that the court papers in question “were obtained from a prop house that were rental pieces used on film (and) photo shoots.”
She said the photo shoot was given the green light by Balenciaga execs who were fully aware of the inappropriate theme.
“Everyone from Balenciaga was on the shoot and was present on every shot and worked on the edit of every image in post production,” Moussaieff said, adding that the set designer was “being used as a scapegoat.”
On Tuesday, Balenciaga issued a second statement taking “full accountability”:
“All items included in this shoot were provided by third parties that confirmed in writing that these props were fake office documents. They turned out to be real legal papers, most likely coming from the filming of a television drama.
“The inclusion of these unapproved documents was the result of reckless negligence for which Balenciaga has filed a complaint. We take full accountability for our lack of oversight and control of the documents in the background and we could have done things differently.”
The fashion house claimed they are putting a plan in place to make sure this never happens again. Balenciaga will also be working with organizations that protect children.
But many say their response is too little, too late.
Meanwhile, Instagram model and avid Balenciaga supporter Monica Arnold remained silent even as her Instagram comments are in shambles.
On Monday, the R&B singer shared an image of herself dressed in blue from head-to-toe. Blue is the official color of the notorious Crips street gang. The 42-year-old mom-of-three captioned the image: “My Absence Give ‘Em The Blues.”
You thought this was only about Balenciaga?
Here’s some more cookies in Disneys new movie “The Santa Clauses”
Soon, you will realize if not already, these “hidden messages” are in ALL the content you consume pic.twitter.com/nh8CfT0KyD
— Andrew Tate Parody (@Morpheusresist) November 28, 2022
This is the Chief Designer for Balenciaga, Lotta Volkova.
Enough said. They knew exactly what they were doing. pic.twitter.com/mMofnFGCQD
— Juanita Broaddrick (@atensnut) November 28, 2022
Kim Kardashian cut ties with the Father of her children but not Balenciaga.
Money really is the root of all evil.
— Isabella Maria DeLuca (@IsabellaMDeLuca) November 28, 2022
