LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Kim Kardashian has once again found herself in the midst of another controversy after modeling for Balenciaga's summer 2024 collection. The move comes less than a year after the luxury brand faced backlash over an ad campaign that seemingly featured children modeling bondage-themed accessories.
While Kim's latest photoshoot showcases her in a stunning Balenciaga outfit, it has raised eyebrows and reignited debates about her association with the brand.
Kim Kardashian models for Balenciaga's S/S 2024
In the promotional images for Balenciaga's summer collection, Kim donned the brand's 3D Molded Wet Dress, a form-fitting midi dress featuring a corseted bodice and an asymmetric hemline paired with skin-tight black stiletto boots.
The Skims founder completed her look with a wet-style hairstyle, natural-looking makeup, and a sparkling high heel she casually held in her hand.
Although Kim featured in Balenciaga's lookbook, she did not attend the Paris Fashion Week show where the collection was unveiled. Sources revealed that she had an early private preview of the collection while in Paris for the Victoria Beckham fashion show.
However, it was Kim's mom, Kris Jenner, and her partner, Corey Gamble, who represented the Kardashian-Jenner clan at the Balenciaga show, along with other notable attendees like Paris Hilton, Charli XCX, Dylan Sprouse, Offset, Ashley Graham, and more.
What was the Balenciaga controversy?
This collaboration marks the first official project between Kim and Balenciaga since the scandal that erupted in November 2022.
The highly scandalous ads from that time depicted disturbing imagery related to child exploitation, included BDSM themes in advertisements featuring minors, and contained troubling content featuring child pornography that ended up in the background of the ad photos.
At the time, Kim publicly expressed her shock and concern over Balenciaga's controversial ad campaign.
In a tweet, she stated, “I have been quiet for the past few days, not because I haven’t been disgusted and outraged by the recent Balenciaga campaigns, but because I wanted an opportunity to speak to their team to understand for myself how this could have happened.”
However, the statement came on November 27, 2022, a little too late in the day to salvage her position. Most fans saw it as a last ditch attempt to save her own brand, while also not letting go of the lucrative Balenciaga partnership.
In her tweet, Kim wrote, “As a mother of four, I have been shaken by the disturbing images. The safety of children must be held with the highest regard and any attempts to normalize child abuse of any kind should have no place in our society — period.”
She continued, “I appreciate Balenciaga’s removal of the campaigns and apology. In speaking with them, I believe they understand the seriousness of the issue and will take the necessary measures for this to never happen again.”
“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 — & the actions I am expecting to see them take to protect children,” she concluded.
Even a year after the scandal, Balenciaga is not in the clear and neither is Kim for promoting them again.
Internet users were furious after seeing Kim pose for the controversial brand. A user commented on Reddit, "Why is this surprising to anyone? B***h has no values, morals, ethics, integrity or honesty." Another added, "She’s evil to the bone and rotten to the core."
A X user tweeted, "So, the apologies etc were lies...." "Gross!!" read another tweet.
