Dusseldorf, November 29: The scandal around Balenciaga is widening. Last night, more evidence was discovered in the campaign photos that the shoot was clearly intended to trivialize child abuse. Read theTimeline of the scandal that played out over the period of the last few days:

The BDSM plush bears and the empty empty wine and champagne glasses

Balenciaga released its 2022 Christmas gift campaign, in which children posed with their plush bag. The bags are designed like teddy bears and are dressed in BDSM outfits. In the photo shoot, the kids are also surrounded by empty wine and champagne glasses. 

Statement of the photographer

The first indignant comments appear on social media. Balenciaga initially ignores the scandal and then assigns responsibility to those involved in the shoot, including the photographer, Gabriele Galimberti. Balenciaga deletes the campaign. The photographer issues a statement that he had no control over the content of the photo shoot. A day later, the father of one of the child models makes a statement that his child had had a lot of fun on the set and earns incomprehension worldwide.

Celebrities distance themselves - Kim Kardashian Twitter statement

After celebrities like Bella Hadid delete their Balenciaga photos from their Instagram account, Balenciaga promises clarification. Kim Kardashian earns worldwide criticism when she, as one of the most important worldwide Balenciaga testimonials does not immediately distance herself. In her Twitter statement, she finally wrote on November 27:

"I have been quiet for the past few days, not because I haven't been disgusted and outraged by the recent Balenciaga campaigns, but because I wanted an opportunity to speak to their team to understand for myself how this could have happened. As a mother of four, I have been shaken by the disturbing images. The safety of children must be held with the highest regard and any attempts to normalize child abuse of any kind should have no place in our society - period," she continued. "I appreciate Balenciaga's removal of the campaigns and apology. In speaking with them, I believe they understand the seriousness of the issue and will take the necessary measures for this to never happen again."

Court documents:

Attentive critics discover that in the background of one image is a printout of a Supreme Court ruling on whether or not child pornography on the Internet can legally be considered free speech. The case in question is United States v. Williams, which upheld part of the federal law on child pornography.

Meanwhile in the social media world.

Celebrities and other social media users are calling for the label to be boycotted because it glorifies child abuse. Numerous stars and influencers post videos on TikTok and Instagram over the course of the following days showing them disposing of Balenciaga shoes and clothing. A staging with Jeffrey Epstein with Balenciaga garments can also be seen.

North Six

Balenciaga blames North Six, the production company that helped organize the shoot. They claim that they entrusted the staging of the photo shoot to North Six.

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New allegations, 28 November 2022 - Michaël Borremans

Balenciaga has yet to comment on why a book by Michaël Borremans is in the background of two images featuring actress Isabelle Huppert in the Spring '23 campaign. The book in question is "As Sweet as It Gets," by the internationally acclaimed Belgian artist. The book is published by Hatje Cantz Verlag; it is out of print. The 2014 exhibition was also attended by Belgium's Queen Mathilde. An association was quickly made with his other work, "Fire From The Sun," which depicts nude, castrated infants. Before you Google this book, be warned: the images in this book are completely disturbing. By staging the painter in the kinky Balenciaga campaign, this effect is amplified even more.

Lotta Volkova

Celebrity stylist Lotta Volkova also comes under suspicion. She had worked for Balenciaga in the past. From her Instagram account, pictures are posted on social media could be interpreted as violence and Satanism and generate a worldwide storm. Later, her spokesperson states to Newsweek, "She condemns the abuse of children in any form." It continues, "Lotta Volkova has not worked with Balenciaga or its team since 2018 and she has in no way participated in the brand's recent Instagram or advertising campaigns."

The lawsuit

Balenciaga reportedly filed a $25 million lawsuit on Friday, November 26 against production company North Six, Inc. and set designer Nicholas Des Jardins. The latter's Instagram account is now set to private. Northsix is a hugely successful production company that also organized the Zara Kids campaign.

What will happen next

It is a carefully arranged campaign that propagates child abuse, whoever was responsible for it. The social worldwide storm against it is calming and can hopefully lead to stronger controls and new better values in the fashion world.

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29 November 2022