A Calvin Klein advert featuring British musician FKA twigs has been banned following allegations it objectified women.
The poster, which was released in April 2023, shows the pop singer wearing a denim shirt that draws halfway up her body, leaving the side of her buttocks and half of one breast exposed.
The accompanying text reads: “Calvins or nothing.”
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) received two complaints that the images were “overly sexualised”, offensive and irresponsible because they objectified women and were shown inappropriately.
The independent has contacted Calvin Klein and FKA twigs for comment.
Calvin Klein defended the advertisement by comparing it to those previously published in the United Kingdom for many years.
He said twigs, who the fashion brand described as a “confident and empowered woman,” collaborated with Calvin Klein to create the image and had approved it before its release.
(PENNSYLVANIA)
Calvin Klein added that all “conventionally sensitive” areas of the body were completely covered and the subject was in a natural, neutral position.
“We considered that the composition of the image placed viewers' attention on the model's body rather than the clothing being advertised,” the ASA said.
”The ad used nudity and focused on FKA twigs' physical features rather than clothing, to the point of presenting her as a stereotypical sexual object.
“We therefore concluded that the advertisement was irresponsible and likely to cause serious offence.”
FKA twigs starred in the Calvin Klein campaign alongside model Kendal Jenner
(Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
The ASA did not ban two other posters from the same campaign featuring model Kendall Jenner.
She found that they did not focus on her body in a way that represented her as a sexual object, while the level of nudity did not exceed what viewers would expect from a lingerie advertisement.
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The ban comes shortly after Calvin Klein launched a highly publicized campaign in which Bear Actor Jeremy Allen White.
Calvin Klein ad with 'The Bear' actor Jeremy Allen White
(Calvin Klein)
Posters of White wearing the brand's underwear have gone viral on social media, with fans sharing their reactions on TikTok.
“It's weird to do a Calvin Klein ad and now it's even weirder for it to come out,” he told reporters backstage.
However, White seemed somewhat uncomfortable with the attention at the Golden Globes, where he took home the award for Best Male Actor in a TV Series – Musical or Comedy.
In an interview with Extrathe cast of Bear We were confronted by a poster of White wearing Calvins.
“What was going through your minds when you all saw this?” journalist Melvin Robert asked the group.
“Oh my God,” White responded, as her co-star Ayo Edebiri, who won Best Female Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy, attempted to hide the sign from view.
“I'm going to keep it,” he said. “I'm going to take it away from my boy! That's my Boy! That's my Boy! “This is a job function… you know what I mean!?”
Does it make you feel uncomfortable? Robert asked about the attention White was receiving.
“Sure,” White said. “Yeah.”
Additional information from the Press Association
