This Calvin Klein ad featuring FKA Twigs has been banned in the UK, accused of “objectifying women”.

After Jeremy Allen White’s viral photo shoot set social media on fire a few days ago, it’s a cold shower for Calvin Klein. In fact, the brand was banned from airing a clothing campaign image featuring one of their muses, singer FKA Twigs. The ad in question, which aired from April 2023, showed the 36-year-old artist wearing one open denim top, exposing the side of her rear and mid-chest in broad daylight. At the top could be read the following slogan: “Calvin or nothing.”

The charge? The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) received two complaints, warning that the photo was “offensive” and “irresponsible” because it “overly sexualized” and “objectified” women. DailyMail: this January 10, 2024.

A “confident” woman

In its defense, the Calvin Klein brand responded that the campaign photo, shot by fashion photographer duo Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, was nevertheless similar to those aired in the UK for many years and thus fit their usual artistic direction. Brand executives also claimed that FKA Twigs, described in a statement as a “confident, strong and powerful woman,” worked with the brand to create the image and approved it before it was released.

The publication also adds that all “conventionally sensitive” parts of the body are fully covered, and the model is posed in a “natural” and “neutral” pose.

“Grievous Offense”

Despite these defensive elements, the ASA ruled; “We considered that the composition of the image draws viewers’ attention to the model’s body rather than to the advertised clothing,” said the official statement, reported by M. Daily Mail:. The organization believed that “the ad used nudity and focused on FKA Twigs’ physical attributes rather than her clothing, portraying her as a stereotypical sex object.” We therefore concluded that the ad was irresponsible and could cause serious offence.’

While the verdict has just been released, the image is still online on Calvin Klein’s social media. The other photos of this campaign, in particular the “topless” image of the American model Kendall Jenner, were not the target of these complaints.