"What has happened with Balenciaga?" It has turned into one of the most recurrent researches of the month of November. The fashionable house of Spanish luxury founded in 1917 by the designer Cristóbal Balenciaga in San Sebastián has seen wrapped in an important controversy by which has been massively criticised through the social networks.
On 21 November, Balenciaga presented his last collection, created by Demna Gvsalia, that was hired by the Spanish signature in 2015 like creative director, after his experience in Martin Margiela and Louis Vuiton. In spite of his spectacular creations, this time has been protagonist by how has decided to give to know his collection.
The designer always has ensured that after each act in which it participates, behind each piece, each collection, each action, exists a meaning that justifies his work, But which type of meaning or explanation excusan some photographies of boys accompanied by teddy bears with an own clothing of the 'bondage'? The Christmas campaign 'Balenciaga Gift Shop' was composed by instantaneous of the photographer Gabriele Galimberti. What announced in this new collection were accessories for the home, but in front of a scenography so grotesque, obviously, was what less stood out.
Days afterwards, and with a big part of users of Twitter that framed and related other actions of the brand with the last scandal, Balenciaga decided to delete the images published and apologise by the instantaneous that formed part of the campaign focused to the gifts of Christmas.
The withdrawal of the campaign was accompanied of some statements by part of the company through its profile of Instagram in which they declared the following: "we excuse sincerely by any offence that have been able to cause our campaign for the parties navideñas. Our bags and teddy bears would not have to have appeared with boys in this campaign. We have withdrawn immediately the campaign of all the platforms. We apologise for showing documents disturbing in our campaign. We take us this subject very seriously and go to undertake legal actions against the responsible parts of the creation of the set and of the inclusion of articles no approved for our session of photos of the campaign of spring 23. We condemn firmly the abuse of the boys in any one of its forms. We defend the security and the welfare of the boys", declared the company in his profile of the social network.
The photographer declared in 'The Guardian' that received death threats
On 10 December, the photographer Gamberti, white of countless critical by part of the users of the social networks, published in his account of Twitter a fragment of the interview that conceded for the half British 'The Guardian ': "We take several photographs, and afterwards some of them were of my camera to a computer of somebody that sent these photographs to the central offices of 'Balenciaga'. When from the offices give the OK, simply replace the mannequin with a boy for real." Gamberti Recognises that it did not speak with the designer Demna at any moment.
Gabriele Gamberti explained in 'The Guardian' that the parents of the lower that appears in the photographs were at all times of agreement and far to relate it with BDSM and even pederasty, for them the teddy's were objects related with the 'punk'. "I can recognise if we go too far or no, but in this occasion trust they and did not see at all so bad" argued the photographer. "It is not the first time that 'Balenciaga' sees wrapped in front of a controversy of east calibrate. Once, the people accused me to be a democrat that hated the arms and I was have to defend me of this indictment... But when they accuse you to be pedophile? How can you defend you?" It concluded, the photographer that appreciates the newspaper that have given him a space to explain his point of view.
'Balenciaga' Related with other scandals of childish pornography
Neither the statements of the photographer, neither the ones of the own mark, achieved to appease the alluvium of criticisms that poured on the mark of incessant way. Far to attain it and to try 'throw a heavy veil over' have been more the theories and proofs that have gone linking with this last campaign of 'Balenciaga'.
In the thread of this recognised twitter user, Juanito Say, analyse more details that happened unobserved in the first moment. When they stop to observe in detail these photos, find documents related with the "Metre Management Service" that does reference to the disappearance of thousands of boys in Washington, D.C..
The same author of this thread of Twitter, spoke on the stylist Lotta Volkova to which attributes a "obsession with the torture, the Satanism and the mutilation of boys" and shares worrying and disturbing pictures of children in her profile of Instagram.
The of Balenciaga already is too much...
— Juanito Say (@JuanitoSay) December 1, 2022
I open thread for all those that even do not understand well that this happening. pic.twitter.com/4mldh4s6jb
Demna Gvasalia Broke his silence
The creative director of the signature finally decided to speak on the scandal and give the face, but also by his profile of Instagram. "It was inappropriate that the boys promoted objects that did not have at all that see with them", although it went back to recalcar that pursues always the intention to "cause a thought through his work". However, it wanted to leave clear also that "it never would have the intention to do this with a so horrible subject of childish abuse that condemn."
Gvasalia Took advantage of also to advance that the mark would undertake legal actions to avoid that these actions go back to repeat and recognised that it was he who did "a wrong artistic election of the concept for the campaign". "Like consequence of the bad praxis of the sued, the general public and the media have associated false and horriblemente to Balenciaga with the repulsive subject and deeply inquietante of the judicial documents", indicates the mark.
Still like this, as it advanced 'Fashion Network' the past 5 December, Cedric Charbit, the CEO Of the mark, announced that it had withdrawn the judicial demand in which it requested 25 million dollars by damages and damages against the producer that made the announcement, North Six. "Together with my team will do a 'tour of listen' to engage us with the groups of defence that have like aim protect to the boys... We have reserved an important bottom to concede subventions to organisations, so that we can help to mark the difference in the protection of the boys", added the CEO of Balenciaga.
The influencers destroy his products of 'Balenciaga'
Cancel. A term that all brand or company want to avoid beside the name of his organisation in the social media. But it isn't the case of 'Balenciaga' and the brand was 'cancelled' by a lot of public characters and influencers. The products of the mark appears in many videos of TikTok and Instagram. The principal reason to do this video was break the clothe, bags or any item of the brand to demostrate the repudation against the brand
@sandra.deniise Am hallucinated ! A thing no that is to say at all, another is to support a company p3dofila! #cancelbalenciaga #balenciaga #balenciagagate ♬ Balenciaga - T3NZU
Some of the reactions that more did expect was the one of Kim Kardashian. The worldwide known celebrity kept his silence during several days and his fans demanded her position in this regard. And finally it did it by means of his account of Twitter: "I Have been quiet during the last days, no because they have not upset me and outraged the recent campaigns of Balenciaga, but because it wanted to have the opportunity to speak with his team to understand by me same how has been able to happen this. Like mother of four children, have shaken me the images worrying. The security of the boys has to have in the highest consideration and any attempt to normalise the childish abuse of any type would not have to take place in our society, that's that. I appreciate that it have withdrawn the campaigns and have excused. When speaking with them, think that understand the gravity of the subject and will take the necessary measures so that this does not go back to occur." Kim Kardashian has ensured that it was replanted his relation with the mark.