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High fashion brand Balenciaga recently released a shocking ad campaign that sexualized young children. The ads feature toddlers holding stuffed animals in BDSM (bondage, discipline, sadism, and masochism) gear, such as harnesses and nets. There was even a court document on child pornography partially hidden in an image.
These ads are absolutely disgusting. Balenciaga has apologized for an ad that sexualized children after a public outcry. They didn’t provide any explanation or donate money to child protection organizations, they just removed the ad. Balenciaga’s leadership team and anyone else responsible for these images should resign or be fired. Saying “we apologize for any offense” is not enough.
Balenciaga’s embarrassment is just a symptom of a deadly disease in our culture: the “pornification” of our media, the dire dangers it poses, and the harm it does to our children. As parents, teachers, and reasonable adults, we have a responsibility to keep children who cannot defend themselves safe.
Why would one of the best-funded and respected marketing teams in the industry (targeting the world’s wealthiest customers) think this is a winning wallet-selling strategy? Who is this for, and why do they think it will sell a $3,000 handbag?
BRITTANY ALDEAN DROPS BALENCIAGA BAGS AFTER CONTROVERSABLE AD CAMPAIGN INVOLVING CHILDREN
Balenciaga’s photos are so embarrassing that few, even in the sexiest corners of the internet, come to their defense. But when the money hung in the balance, many lost their voices. Celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Nicole Kidman, who have made a fortune from the brand through endorsements, remained silent for days. It took Kardashian a week to react, and even then, she couldn’t draw a line from the paycheck she received from the brand. Her bland response is nothing more than a tacit approval of the sexualization of our society.
Where is the anger at these kids demanding safety and revenge? We’ve seen the power of cultural figures when they demand justice. People and brands are “cancelled”. Public figures are expelled from public life. Individuals lost their entire livelihood and reputation. But a loud cry for justice in our culture turns into a silent whimper when a major fashion brand releases an image that could signal the FBI is investigating possession of child sexual abuse material.
Now is the time for all of us to say no – we will no longer tolerate the sexualization of our children. These precious, innocent lives are being victimized emotionally and physically by society’s worst individuals who prioritize greed and lust over human dignity.
We must use one voice against the degradation of our children. This cuts across the shallow divisions of our time. Democrat or Republican, urban or rural, religious or non-religious, we must all stand up for those we are responsible to protect. The behavior of the past week shows how insensitive our society is to this madness. Silence is not an option. In this case, silence provides cover for child abuse.
After facing backlash, the ad’s photographer claimed he had no say in the props or models used in the shoot. He claimed that his only responsibility was to ” [light] Given the scene, then shoot. “The items are clear, the age of the child is evident. It’s unbelievable how the photographers continue to take these images and not speak out. When we see atrocities happening, like this as a crime against children, we say nothing , do nothing – then we are part of the problem.
Speaking up means demanding justice. The oversexualization of children must stop now. According to 2019 data from the U.S. Sentencing Commission, more than half (52.2%) of nonproductive child pornography offenses included images or videos of infants and young children, and nearly all offenses (99.4%) included prepubescent victims. In 84 percent of cases, images depicting sadistic or masochistic behavior or the abuse of infants or toddlers were imposed with aggravated sentences. Just to make it more different.
Apparently, Balenciaga’s professional marketers believe that our society values social status and sexual pleasure—including the deviant and violent kind—over the safety and welfare of our children.
This mentality perpetuates our throwaway culture, whose worst consequences include the struggling state of our foster care system, failing schools, and the dehumanization of children in the womb. When we devalue life at any stage, we devalue it together.
In fact, children cannot advocate for themselves, they cannot organize, vote or lobby. They are completely defenseless. The civic and moral duty of reasonable adults is their voice, refusing to budge from those who would destroy them.
Balenciaga should be ashamed and held accountable. Kids deserve something better than our porn culture. We owe them security and stability.