Wednesday 23 November 2022 08:11 PM Balenciaga wipes its social media after apologizing for bondage-themed campaign trends now

High end fashion house Balenciaga is scrambling to deal with the fallout from their controversial ad campaign that featured children holding teddy bear bags that featured the stuffed animals clad in bondage attire. 

In response to the scandal, Belanciaga has wiped their social media accounts of all images except for an apology in their Instagram Story. The photos were part of the company's Spring 2023 line and was titled Balenciaga Objects. 

The Paris-based company said in a press release last week that the 'campaign iterates on the artist's series Toy Stories, an exploration of what people collect and receive as gifts.'

It went on to say that it would feature 'dozens of new products ranging from homeware, pet wear and scent, from everyday items to limited-edition collectibles and bespoke furniture.'

Belanciaga is typically associated with A-list celebrities such as Kim Kardashian but in the fallout from this most recent scandal, model Bella Hadid deleted an Instagram post promoting the brand.

While Oscar-winner Nicole Kidman debuted her latest campaign with the brand today, as the controversy rages. Belanciaga is owned by luxury empire Kering. 

Those angry with the fashion house descended on Kidman's Instagram page. One person said: 'I adore you Nicole and I certainly don’t think you’re associated with the set design, however I think it tasteful to delete these considering.'

Another wrote: 'Waiting … For you to speak out against Balenciaga for what they’ve done. Waiting.'

While another said: 'They deleted all their photos and yet you sit complicit. Silence is deafening.' 

A celebrity who lent her encouragement to Kidman was Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star Mariska Hargitay who commented: 'Badass beauty.' Hargitay is known for her real-life activism in the fight against child sex abuse. 

One follower responded to Hargitay saying: 'I am surprised you are supporting this. I thought after so many years working on SVU. You would be ok with a photoshoot that endorses child abuse.'

Among the clothing worn by the children's toys in the ads are fishnet stockings, chokers, string vests and chains leading to many on social media to refer to it as 'child porn' and 'disturbing.'

Perhaps the most shocking image is that of a document in the second advertisement, shown close to a child tucked under a purse, the 2008 Supreme Court ruling United States v Williams which examined if laws against the promotion of child pornography were in violation of the first amendment. 

The ruling determined that offering or requesting to transfer, sell, deliver, or trade child pornography did not violate the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, even if a person charged under the code did not in fact possess child pornography with which to trade. The late Justice Antonin Scalia noted specifically that offers to engage in illegal transactions are categorically excluded from First Amendment protection.