From ally to adversary.
Kanye West, formerly one of Balenciaga’s most prominent admirers and collaborators, is speaking out against the uproar surrounding the brand’s most recent advertising campaign, which includes youngsters modeling teddy bear-shaped bags with bondage accessories.
West seemed to call on his fellow celebrities to criticize the luxury label, which severed relations with the rapper in October after he made a string of anti-Semitic statements, when he was stopped by paparazzi after attending church on Sunday.
“This proves that all celebrities are managed. According to TMZ, West stated that no celebs are speaking about the Balenciaga scenario.
“Don’t allow any of these celebrities affect you in any way, because they’re controlled by those who truly govern the globe,” he continued. They are not God’s servants.
The current Balenciaga ad campaign received criticism for depicting youngsters clutching BDSM-inspired items.
Balenciaga
Kim Kardashian, who has appeared in Balenciaga ad campaigns and virtually exclusively wears the brand’s creations, posted her own comment on social media condemning the offensive commercials a few hours after West’s interview.
Kardashian said in part, “I have been silent for the past few days, not because I haven’t been appalled and upset by the recent Balenciaga advertisements, but because I wanted a chance to talk with their staff to understand how this could have occurred.”
“As a mother of four, the terrible images have left me frightened. The protection of children is of the first importance, and attempts to normalize any form of child abuse have no place in our culture, period.”
Both West and his ex-wife Kim Kardashian have been immensely supportive of Balenciaga and its creative director Demna in the past, participating in Balenciaga advertisements and events and nearly exclusively wearing the brand.
Kardashian, 42, added an addendum to her initial statement about her partnership with Balenciaga, saying, “As for my future with Balenciaga, I am currently re-evaluating my relationship with the brand based on their willingness to accept responsibility for something that should have never happened in the first place — and the actions I expect to see them take to protect children.”
Lala Kent, Kanye West, and Kim Kardashian are among the few celebrities who have criticized the advertisements.
Balenciaga
Bella Hadid, who recently participated in a Balenciaga commercial campaign, erased the photographs from her Instagram account; Nicole Kidman, who also appeared in the advertising, has yet to remove hers, despite the fact that many users have demanded that they do so.
West has a lengthy relationship with Balenciaga, having worked closely with creative director Demna for years, collaborating with him on the Yeezy Gap line, and made his modeling debut last month at Balenciaga’s Paris catwalk show.
During the same video interview in which he criticized celebrities for remaining silent about the situation, the “Gold Digger” rapper seemed to be wearing redesigned Balenciaga designs with his “Ye24” brand, which he planned to sell for $20.
»Kanye West on the Balenciaga scandal: “All celebrities are managed.”«