Kim Kardashian reportedly declined an offer from Spanish-founded luxury clothing brand Balenciaga, shortly after their highly controversial Spring 2023 campaign.
The campaign featured two separate photoshoots that critics say implied the sexualization of children. One photoshoot featured children modeling BDSM-inspired teddybear backpacks while the other images - set against the backdrop of an office strewn with papers - appeared to display a document from a Supreme Court case involving child pornography.
Featured in the background of another image from the office shoot is a coffee table book by artist Michaël Borremans, whose paintings include images of naked toddlers.
Balenciaga issued a statement to CNN about the disturbing documents, saying: "All the items included in this shooting were provided by third parties that confirmed in writing that these props were fake office documents. They turned out to be real legal papers most likely coming from the filming of a television drama."
Soon afterward Balenciaga apologized, taking to Instagram to issue two statements that blamed other "parties" for the campaigns.
"We apologize for displaying unsettling documents in our campaign. We take this matter very seriously and are taking legal action against the parties responsible for creating the set and including unapproved items for our Spring 23 campaign photoshoot. We strongly condemn abuse of children in any form. We stand for children (sic) safety and well-being," they wrote.
Following the controversy, Balenciaga filed a $25 million lawsuit in the New York Supreme Court against production company North Six, Inc., set designer Nicholas Des Jardins and his company. According to court documents, Balenciaga hired North Six and Des Jardins to develop and produce its Spring 2023 campaign, CNN reported.
The fashion brand - which featured a range of famous figures including Bella Hadid and Nicole Kidman in their Spring 2023 campaigns - alleged in court findings that North Six's "inexplicable acts and omissions were malevolent or, at the very least, extraordinarily reckless."
"As for my future with Balenciaga, I am currently re-evaluating my relationship with the brand, basing it off their willingness to accept accountability for something that should have never happened to begin with - [and] the actions I am expecting to see them take to protect children," she added.
Netizens became infuriated at the subpar apologies, arguing that the reality TV star should cut all ties with the brand, rather than offering to "re-evaluate" her relationship with them.
She has, so far, kept true to her word though, after TMZ reported that the brand approached her with an offer that she declined, and that the Los Angeles-based businesswoman has chosen to ditch Balenciaga outfits she was supposed to wear at upcoming events.