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Manila Bulletin devider Lifestyle devider Balenciaga issues apology after its controversial campaign went viral

Balenciaga issues apology after its controversial campaign went viral

Published Nov 23, 2022 01:50 pm

‘Our plush bear bags should not have been featured with children in this campaign,’ the brand says.

After cutting ties with Ye and leaving Twitter, Balenciaga recently went viral again—and for the wrong reason. The luxury label got slammed on social media after releasing its campaign that features young girls holding a teddy bear designed with a sexual harness. This backlash prompted the brand to delete the images and issue an apology.

The plush bear bag featured on Balenciaga's spring-summer 2023 runway show (Photo from Balenciaga)

In a statement shared on Instagram, Balenciaga said that the “plush bear bags should not have been featured with children in this campaign” and apologizes for the offense it may have caused. 

“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-summer 23 campaign photo shoot,” the brand continued. “We strongly condemn abuse of children in any form. We stand for children safety and well-being.”

 The plush bear bags were first seen at its spring-summer 2023 show in Paris. Dubbed “The Mud Show,” creative director Demna Gvasalia’s collection presented models wearing oversized pieces, chunky shoes, vibrant sweats, and contemporary long gowns in a muddy set, which is “a metaphor for digging for truth and being down to earth.”

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