Kim Kardashian finally said something we can all agree on

I don’t always find myself a natural fit for Kim Kardashian – I mean: we’re the same age, and… that’s it. Another similarity: we both have kids. Oh, and neither of us think children should be used to advertise fetish costumes.

What? You heard it correctly, but go back and uncheck it for a bit. It’s a catchy headline – and for good reason. Kim, 42, appears to be “re-evaluating” her relationship as a model for the luxury fashion brand after designers launched a hugely controversial ad campaign about children. you – and the slave bears.

Curiously, the campaign (now removed from all platforms) features child models standing on beds and sofas hugging teddy bears dressed in BDSM ties – including mesh tops, studded leather belts and lock necklace. The photo shoot was shown on Balenciaga’s website as part of the “Toy Stories” campaign for the Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2023 collection.

A separate campaign for Balenciaga’s partnership with Adidas (now also deleted) used papers from Supreme Court comments in a child pornography case as a basis for advertising. hand bag. I mean, where do we even start?

Thankfully (however weird that is), we have Kim. She has broken her silence – and potentially her lucrative relationship with the fashion house, after appearing only recently in Balenciaga’s fall 2022 campaign – to share her reaction. your response as a parent.

“I’ve been quiet for the past few days, not because I don’t feel disgusted and indignant at Balenciaga’s recent campaigns, but because I wanted the opportunity to speak with their team so I could understand what was going on. How could this happen,” she said. said on Twitter.

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“As a mother of four, I was shaken by the disturbing images,” she added. “Children’s safety must come first and any attempt to normalize child abuse of any kind should have no place in our society – at this stage.”

Balenciaga issued a public apology for their campaign last week, but Kim said she is currently “reassessing my relationship with the brand, based on their willingness to accept responsibility.” for something that should never have happened in the first place – and actions I am looking forward to seeing them take action to protect children.”

“I appreciate Balenciaga’s removal of campaigns and apologies,” she said. “When I talk to them, I believe they understand the seriousness of the problem and will take the necessary measures so that this never happens again.”

Right. In terms of “things we really don’t have to say,” the idea of ​​a fashion brand that agrees to mix and match with children to sell eye-catching expensive luxury goods doesn’t just leave a smell. unpleasant taste in the mouth.

It’s not just urgent discussions about what’s (and what’s definitely not) age-appropriate; but first we need to talk about using child models to sell adult stuff; about the shady history and treatment of young people in the modeling industry over the decades and – quite simply – about kids cheating.

If a child is too young to understand the implications of a particular adult joke, comment, or statement (or in this case, a bear’s costume); if a young person does not “get” the double meaning – it is not for children. They don’t need to close any part of it. Because you can’t agree with what you don’t understand.

That applies to all adults at home with young children, not just high-fashion brands like Balenciaga. It applies to every time we post pictures of our children online without asking them first; it’s about sharing cute but embarrassing stories about them on social media – and even going so far as to expect them to kiss and hug their loved ones around Christmas.

It comes down to two things: consent and respect. We ask a lot of our kids, and (very often) we expect them to obey blindly. We don’t give them anywhere near the agreement or autonomy we give adults. And that is wrong. This Balenciaga campaign proves it.

It’s not just a PR ball. The concept should never have been signed off in the first place, let alone created and released to the public. Why does Balenciaga think children and teddy bears should be combined in fetish costumes? When we become sensitized to something, we no longer see red flags. And we can’t protect those in need if we don’t see the problem in the first place.