FKA Twigs has responded to her Calvin Klein ad being banned in the United Kingdom for being "too sexual."
Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, the 36-year-old has opened up to her 2.4 million followers after a Calvin Klein poster of her posing in just an open-button shirt was banned by the UK's Advertising Standards Authority for being likely to cause serious offense for objectifying women.
"We considered the image's composition placed viewers' focus on the model's body rather than on the clothing being advertised," they wrote in a statement. "The ad used nudity and centred on FKA twigs' physical features rather than the clothing, to the extent that it presented her as a stereotypical sexual object.
"We therefore concluded the ad was irresponsible and likely to cause serious offense," it added.
The black-and-white poster, originally published back in April 2023, showed the star wearing a denim shirt that covered only half of her body while revealing her cleavage and the shape of her physique. Twigs paired the look with braids and a simple glam make-up look.
In her post, she rejected the Advertising Standards Authority's notion that she was a "stereotypical sexual object."
"I do not see the 'stereotypical sexual object' that they have labelled me," wrote the British performer. "I see a beautiful strong woman of colour whose incredible body has overcome more pain than you can imagine."
She continued: "In light of reviewing other campaigns past and current of this nature, I can’t help but feel there are some double standards here. so to be clear... I am proud of my physicality and hold the art I create with my vessel to the standards of women like Josephine Baker, Eartha Kitt and Grace Jones who broke down barriers of what it looks like to be empowered and harness a unique embodied sensuality."
She concluded the post by doubling down on her stance.
"Thank you to CK and Mert and Marcus who gave me a space to express myself exactly how I wanted to - I will not have my narrative changed," she said.
Have a look at the post below:Since it was posted earlier today, the statement has already received over 135,000 likes, with hundreds of comments praising the 'Video Girl' singer for standing up for herself.
"People just envy you because you are one of the most talented and beautiful creatures on earth. Let them be humbled by it not threatened like I am. You are incredible," wrote fellow British singer, Paloma Faith.
"They always hyper-sexualize Black women, you are art," added this user.
"The double standard is beyond. my feed has been ppl foaming over the sexual objectiveness of the Jeremy Allen Whites campaign," a third stated.
Jeremy Allen White also posed for Calvin Klein in a similar manner to Twigs, with both stars showing off their incredible physiques.
However, the response to both campaigns has definitely been different.
Women's Wear Daily reported that the campaign generated $12.7 million in media impact value for the brand in less than 48 hours, according to Launchmetrics. The brand, by itself, generated $3 million in MIV, with its top placement being an Instagram worth $859,000 in MIV.
The post now has more than 1.4 million likes, the outlet added.
Rowan Pelling of the Independent also questioned why it was okay "for women to ogle men in Calvin Kleins but not the other way around?"
"As an underwear ad featuring FKA Twigs is banned for 'overly sexualising' a woman, one featuring actor Jeremy Allen White is busy breaking the internet with women declaring it a fantastic day to have eyeballs... Is this what feminism was meant to achieve," Pelling asked her readers and the statement couldn't be any closer to the truth.
Despite what the UK's Advertising Standards Authority thinks, here's to celebrating all women, their bodies and their art.
