Bears repeating!
Also, let’s stick closely to topic, it really helps preventing tangents and drama.
Also, let’s stick closely to topic, it really helps preventing tangents and drama.
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What do y'all think about the Balenciaga SS23 & Adidas collab "teddy" controversy?
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Agree. I found it to be alarming, offensive, and smacking of outrageous conspiracy theories surrounding well known Jewish figures. Especially if a particular post did not know they were Jewish, (which indicates to me how pervasive and sneaky the tropes are), to interject them all here in this balenciaga mess, smacks of the same kind of thoughtlessness that we attribute to Kering Group.
I am not solely referring to the one post quoted by @jellyv. Several contributors to this thread have made general disparaging remarks about elites, woke media (NYT; WaPo; etc) and nebulous wealthy behind the scenes powers — all of which are infamous antisemitic tropes — that the posts have connected to pedophilia; “pizzagate is real” statement (made by the same poster); and now Balenciaga WTF.
ETA : To be more specific, persecution of ‘people in control and holding a large amount of financial assets’ has been an ignorant and racist trope since the Middle Ages and culminating against the Jews in WWII. I sincerely question anyone who claims ignorance of these tropes (starting with Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice) onward. Tagging @trippinonsunshine bc she posted a query about antisemitic tropes.
ETA : I find the balenciaga campaign totally offensive; however someone else posted a query as to how the suits could have approved it; questioned what the brief could be; or asked how the brand could begin to apologize. I would hazard a guess that a p*ss poor explanation might run like this:
We made a serious and offensive error in judgment. We are a brand known for being controversial and edgy, and thought this ad would be no worse than Thierry Muglier Virgin No. 1, Scent of a Murder. The juxtaposition of a child, representing human innocence, being confronted or surrounded by a tawdry and sinful world of salacious [albeit criminal] temptation, seemed like a novel way of presenting our latest damn bag. In other words, the idiotic balenciaga apology would be, oops, we were trying for louche fashion and wandered into seemingly casual acceptance if not active promotion of criminal pedophilia.
To tie my comment together, just as this parody of an apology is ridiculous, so are some of these antisemitism tropes, that didn’t just lead to a crappy ad campaign, but to WWII genocide.
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Indeed a ton of the virtue signalling here on this forum is quite eye rolling to me. https://slate.com/human-interest/2022/11/balenciaga-scandal-child-teddy-bears-fox-news.html
In fact, there are much worse exploitation happening in the world that is being overlooked while people argue about an anti-ad ad.
I'm still waiting for something more substantial than the apology -- perhaps hearing that Demna has been fired. This must have been his vision, or that of his creative team. If he remains I would take that to mean that Bal is completely satisfied with the direction of the company and just a bit irked that the current ad drew negative attention.
If I had any I’d return them to the store and ask for a refund. If it was a long ago purchase I’d ask to speak to a manager and explain that I realize they probably can’t take it back but that I’d like them to let upper management know that I want to make a statement.
Could the Hermes design be a nod to horses? As in where someone can tie their horses?
Since this is a luxury forum and more specifically a Balenciaga subforum, it's pretty logical that a Balenciaga ad would garner more attention than something outside the scope of the forum. It does not mean people don't take a stand against more serious crimes or that people are overlooking other issues, it just means they understand this is probably not the right platform to effectively do so.
As a cool side note, the artist alluded within the ad is Michael Borremans whose work at David Zwirner I really dig- https://www.davidzwirner.com/artists/michael-borremans
The book featured in the ad is https://www.davidzwirnerbooks.com/product/michael-borremans-fire-from-the-sun
This controversy reminds me so much of when Balthus paintings first came out- https://gagosian.com/artists/balthus/
I guess in 10 years we will re-evaluate the sociopolitical acuity of the campaign and learn that in hindsight, it was pivotal just like Tom Ford x Gucci ads or the YSL ads from the 1980s.
At least we aren't getting Terry Richardson here are we? LOL
@HAZE MAT , I happen to adore works by Balthus, but I was a bit disconcerted to discover that he was apparently obsessed with a neighboring restaurant workers 11 year old, and at least 10 major works, in what might now be deemed sexually aggressive poses, culminated when she was 12 or 13.
I sadly don’t think this ad campaign will be pivotal; rather I think the outrage will die down, and balenciaga’s reputation for edgy and provoking fashion will go on
@2manychins , I believe @jellyv posted above #278 that CDC is based on (and named after) a 100 year old design of a dog collar here https://forum.purseblog.com/threads...idas-collab-teddy-controversy.1057196/page-19
ETA: finished by the time the girl turned 12 or 13
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If that was my kid I’d want their pictures removed.
I’m so sorry, I know your pain and how triggering this is. Hugs
I’m so sorry your were too. Hugs
From the Daily Mail (UK).
“The Spanish fashion house and photographer Gabriele Galimberti faced a furious backlash but the father of one of the child models has now defended the shoot.
He said Galimberti was 'innocent' of any wrongdoing and revealed the models were all children of Balenciaga employees who were at the shoot and had approved the campaign.”
“The Spanish fashion house and photographer Gabriele Galimberti faced a furious backlash but the father of one of the child models has now defended the shoot.
He said Galimberti was 'innocent' of any wrongdoing and revealed the models were all children of Balenciaga employees who were at the shoot and had approved the campaign.”
100%.
I will say, we humans can make stupid mistakes, some so much that others would question whether we have common sense or not but what’s common sense to some may not be common sense to others and vice versa.
What IS important is that if you are in a position where something like this flew… you have to take responsibility. Even if, truly, it was not something you personally signed off on because you have many minions that do that (financial scandals like Enron anyone?).
And if you start playing the blame game without some acknowledgement yourself, well, that just shows the type of person you are.
And if Bal as a company, does not remove Demna then it is deeply rooted in their corporate culture to allow such “creative direction” which imho is disgusting.
There are many sleuths on tiktok, they are great at investigating. Today I saw a woman saying she was aware the kids were the children of staff members there. I tend to believe this could be true as no parents have come out in outrage to sue or condemn the brand. I imagine their jobs might be on the line if they talk? Just speculating but it fits.
On another note - it really makes me see Kim's Met gala outfit as complete BDSM stuff, and even dressing her child in something of that nature at fashion week. That she hasn't said she'll leave the brand says a lot about her character. Also why is no one (media) talking about Adidas in all this?
Regarding the stylist - no not someone looking for edgy, Is Lotta her name? She has a disgusting instagram full of dark imagery, this is a look into her mind. She knew what she was doing. Bal will suffer for a long time but they need to do no less than get rid of the whole design and style team. But then again the horrors go all the way to the top.
