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?
- Thread starter MooMooVT
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I'm not going to do the heavy lifting for them. What's been stated by them thus far, is woefully inadequate. Since the word contrition has been used, here is the definition sourced from dictionary.com.--- meaning sincere penitence or remorse - Nothing stated thus far conveys that sentiment.
I've been ambivalent about whether I should comment as this is a sensitive for many of our members, myself included. Once I reply, for my peace of mind, I will not be responding.
Balenciaga deserves every morsel of vitriol they're receiving. Every element within the photo shoot was carefully selected to craft an image, one that places children at its focal point. It is one thing to take controversial pictures and dissect painful topics but it's another to willingly insert Supreme Court documents into the background and posing children on a bed. Children cannot legally consent to how their likeness is portrayed. It is abhorrent that the adults saw nothing wrong with this. In any type of media, framing is everything. The way these CHILDREN are being framed is gross. It is for the sake of shock value - there is NO art in this kind of SHOCK VALUE.
Balenciaga deserves every morsel of vitriol they're receiving. Every element within the photo shoot was carefully selected to craft an image, one that places children at its focal point. It is one thing to take controversial pictures and dissect painful topics but it's another to willingly insert Supreme Court documents into the background and posing children on a bed. Children cannot legally consent to how their likeness is portrayed. It is abhorrent that the adults saw nothing wrong with this. In any type of media, framing is everything. The way these CHILDREN are being framed is gross. It is for the sake of shock value - there is NO art in this kind of SHOCK VALUE.
Right. They need to balance the portfolio and keep the companies in shape and afloat. I am out. No more bags from Kering brands for me. The company doesn't align with my values. And in the future, I need to do my own homework by researching companies and not just fall for design. But this is me. I am not preaching to anyone. People do whatever they want with their money.
I don't care about their due process and where did I say they should announce who gets fired?
They could at least show that they are taking this very seriously, but all they are taking seriously right now is "How can we get out of this and make it look like it was an accident".
What did Demna say something like "I hope to learn from this" etc. Really?? He knew exactly what he was doing, it's all there perfectly laid out. Nobody could accidentally include that much symbolism of the same thing.
I was talking about this with a friend who is a Detective in IL. He showed me a dozen different examples of items that were in the photos and told me what they meant, before I said "ok enough". He said they weren't trying to hide it. They were advertising it. And the way one of the girls was standing on the bed... Wtf.
You don't care, a position that costs you nothing, personally, to hold, without any stake in the outcome. But companies and big orgs do and must care about HR process, because that's potentially disastrous and expensive to mess up. They're already in the midst of a disaster.
Answering your question, in post 450 You wrote: "Maybe "We fu*ked up, (a WHOLE BUNCH OF US) and will cut ties with anyone who approved these entirely inappropriate photos to be used in our stupid gift shop promotion"-- which had to be in house, and probably easily outed, hence totally not what they'd do in a PR apology.
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I know it won't happen. But you asked what apology would satisfy people, and that's the apology I want to hear. They do not seem to be upset, shocked, outraged about this do they? I hear a few people saying this will blow over and I hear many, many more say they will never forget. People are upset. It took too long to post a very carefully worded apology that sounds like damage control. It doesn't feel sincere to me.
ETA to address your first point-I am not worried about the adults who thought this was OK. They are adults they can defend their position but children cannot. Children are not to be the prize for sick people. I will worry about the kids and if I have an extra minute maybe I will worry about the adults. I am not trying to be disrespectful to you, but this is how I feel.
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I truly feel Balenciaga is finished at this point. There is no turning back after what they have done and they should just throw the whole company in the trash and each and everyone who did not say NO to this campaign should go to therapy and court.
I’m sorry but the line that has been crossed here is just unbelievably disturbing and makes me want to throw up.
I’m sorry but the line that has been crossed here is just unbelievably disturbing and makes me want to throw up.
They are probably counting that people will move on and forget. And I do wish, with all my heart that no one WILL EVER forget and now allow them to continue with their desensitizing agenda and that they will pay the price for what they have done
I don’t know much about Balenciaga and their history, but saw a behind the scenes clip of a fashion show model holding baby doll in a front carrier (supposedly with a bruise on her though I couldn’t see it) also holding a Balenciaga Paris bag with a pacifier, bloody clothes and a bloody teddy bear inside. Is this type of thing common in Balenciaga fashion shows?
Also, it makes sense teddy bears represent childhood innocence and they are doing to the bears what they can’t actually do to children.
Also, it makes sense teddy bears represent childhood innocence and they are doing to the bears what they can’t actually do to children.
This is what we have been talking about ALL WEEK. It's not one isolated incident. It's not one ad. One campaign. One photoshoot. One court document. Once we start putting all the pieces of the puzzle together, we see a theme. And the themes are children, sexualization of children, violence, and children covered in blood. How on earth can anyone with a sane mind deny this? How can anyone with a moral compass not acknowledge this? Sickening and disgusting!!!! Thank you for sharing
This controversy literally makes me physically ill. I can't imagine what these unfortunate children have to go through in real life. I've also decided not to buy anything from Kering anymore. I'll still carry my bags in my collection. After seeing what other fellow tpfs post here, I just can't.
Do you mind sharing the items and the relevance? I think it would be informative so that more people are aware of what to look for. I know it’s a nauseating subject but I’d hate to see something else in plain sight and not know what it really was.