It looks like Kim Kardashian is back to wearing Balenciaga after a public break—and fans aren’t going to be happy.
Kim, who was well-known for wearing Balenciaga and even walked in their Paris couture show in July of 2022, chose to stop wearing the fashion house’s duds during their very public scandal late last year when an ad campaign for the brand depicting children interacting with teddy bears dressed in bondage attire left the internet in absolute shock.
I thought people were trolling, but nope. It’s real. Maybe this is why Balenciaga left Twitter. They don’t want to be held accountable. Yes, these are children holding teddy bears dressed in bondage outfits. pic.twitter.com/zBlACUiZjo
— Sav! (@thisissavvy1) November 21, 2022
Kim: ‘Re-evaluating my relationship with the brand’
After the scandal broke for Balenciaga, fans called for Kim to respond to the controversy, leading Kardashian to pen a series of tweets on November 27th, 2022 recognizing the seriousness of the situation. “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,” Kim wrote. “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.”
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Since then, Kim had not been seen in the brand, preferring labels like Rick Owens and Dolce & Gabbana in public. But apparently, Balenciaga's actions since the campaign have satisfied Kim, as despite her public admonishment in November, it seems enough time has passed that Kim is ready to start wearing their fashions again.
Kim was seen wearing Balenciaga during a recent trip to Tokyo with daughters North, 9, and Chicago, 5, reports Page Six. She can be seen in a number of Balenciaga pieces in the photos she posted to Instagram from the trip, including thigh-high silver boots and a pink faux fur coat.
It wasn't the only fashion statement Kim made on her Japan trip—she also referenced the Kill Bill films with a yellow-and-black-striped motorcycle jacket look.
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Back To Balenciaga Despite Controversy
It's an interesting pivot for the fashionista, who reportedly turned down an ad offer from Balenciaga to star in another campaign for the fashion house soon after the controversial BDSM ad scandal. During a guest appearance last December on Angie Martinez's IRL podcast, Kim addressed the fashion fiasco: "As soon as I saw what everyone was seeing...I completely spoke out and gave my thoughts on child porn and completely denounced it. But because I didn’t say, 'F—k you, Balenciaga, that’s it,' people got mad at that. So they’re mad if I don’t speak out. They’re mad if I do speak out, and if I don’t cancel."
This reversal isn't the only advertising-related dust-up the The Kardashians star has been in within the last few weeks—Kim recently received criticism for endorsing an alcohol brand, despite previously professing to "not drink alcohol at all".
