A social media user has removed all her Balenciaga products after the brand's latest controversial campaign.
The French fashion brand is under fire after displaying a photo shoot on its website that featured child models posing with the brand's teddy bear handbags for the Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2023 collection.
However, critics pointed out that the advert - which is part of its Toy Stories campaign - showed children holding toys that were seemingly dressed in bondage and BDSM gear, including fishnet tops, studded leather harnesses, and collars with locks.
One outraged user, who goes by the handle @themagnifierlawyer on TikTok, posted a video explaining the problem and revealed that she will be "personally cleaning" her Balenciaga closet.
Check out her TikTok below:The TikToker described the luxury brand as "sick" and showed herself removing the items - which consisted of white and pink sneakers and hoodies - from her wardrobe.
She then said: "So I'm like actually throwing all of this away right now. This is garbage," before opening her front door and putting it in the trash.
Many infuriated users also took to the comment section of the woman's video to praise her and share their disappointment with the brand's appalling campaign.
One person wrote: "Honestly if you actually did this: BRAVO."
Another chimed in and said: "Protect the innocence of our children at all costs."
A third user commented: "I hope more people follow your lead."
A fourth user suggested: "How about we just stop supporting high-end fashion brands cuz they’re all corrupt and disgusting?! Let’s support small businesses!!!"
The attention to the advertisement was also shared on Twitter - by a verified account called @shoeonhead - and the post amassed 79.1K likes.
"The brand 'Balenciaga' just did a uh..... interesting... photoshoot for their new products recently which included a very purposely poorly hidden court document about 'virtual child porn,' Normal stuff," the user wrote.
Since the extensive backlash, the high-end fashion brand - which has been associated with the likes of Kim Kardashian - apologized on their Instagram stories for causing any "offense" with the adverts.
"We sincerely apologize for any offense our holiday campaign may have caused. Our plush bear bags should not have been featured with children in this campaign. We have immediately removed the campaign from all platforms," they wrote.
Two hours later, the label issued a second apology, after it was pointed out that on a table in another of their pictures displayed a document appearing to show court filings related to a controversial child pornography-related case.
According to the Independent, the document in question is from the 2008 Supreme Court case, United States v Williams, which criminalized the pandering of child pornography.
The ruling reaffirmed the constitutionality of the PROTECT Act - a federal rule that extended penalties for sexual exploitation and other abuse of children.
In a second statement to users on Instagram, Balenciaga wrote: "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 safety and well-being," the brand added.
The apology comes after Balenciaga quietly removed its Twitter account last week and confirmed to the Business of Fashion on November 14 that it had deleted its page.
Also, prior to deleting all its posts on Instagram, the fashion house was reportedly flooded with comments like "Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition," which is a Supreme Court case regarding the Child Pornography Prevention Act of 1996.
