Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, and Cardi B all attended the Balenciaga’s Fall 2024 Fashion Show on Dec. 2nd, and subsequently lost a combined over 850,000 followers on Instagam. Why? Fans haven’t forgotten about Balenciaga’s controversial ad campaign from last year that landed them in hot water. But stars like Kim and Kendall have continued their support of the brand, even though fans have called them out on it time and time again. Now, they are paying the price. Keep reading for more information.
What Is The Balenciaga Controversy?
Balenciaga released a series of ads in November of 2022 that featured children posing with what looked like bondage paraphernalia. The photos featured young children clutching handbags that look like teddy bears that are dressed in fishnet tops and leather harnesses. Also in the photos are wine glasses and other items, including one shot with paperwork about child pornography laws.
The brand immediately received intense criticism and backlash—as they should—including allegations that Balenciaga condoned child exploitation. Two weeks later, the fashion house finally issues a statement on Instagram addressing the controversy, but it did little in terms of audience forgiveness.
"We strongly condemn child abuse," the apology reads. "It was never our intent to include it in our narrative. The two separate ad campaigns in question reflect a series of grievous errors for which Balenciaga takes responsibility."
"Our plush bear bags [...] should not have been featured with children," it continues. "This was was a wrong choice by Balenciaga, combined with our failure in assessing and validating images. The responsibility for this lies with Balenciaga alone."
In response to the documents pertaining to child pornography laws, the brand said that the props for the shoot were provided by a third party. "The inclusion of these unapproved documents was the result of reckless negligence for which Balenciaga has filed a complaint. We take full accountability for our lack of oversight and control of the documents in the background and we could have done things differently."
Though the brand did include it's action plan for doing better in the future, fans have not forgiven the brand, or the celebrities that still support it.
Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, & Cardi B All Support Balenciaga At Their Fashion Show
On Dec. 2nd, Balenciaga hosted it's Fall 2024 fashion show that was attended by many celebrities, including Nicole Kidman, who is the new face of Balenciaga. She, however, gained followers as a result, while Kim, Kendall, and Cardi B all lost followers.
Kim Kardashian attended the event in nude leggings layered with black lace as well as a nude turtleneck top beneath a Balenciaga jacket. She lost over 300,000 followers on Instagram, but Kendall lost even more: 500,000. The model wore a sleeveless Balenciaga gown with a trailing black cape.
Cardi B actually walked in the runway show for Balenciaga, wearing a large blue furry coat. Though she only lost 50,000 Instagram followers, fans still weren't happy with her.
Fans Take To Social Media To Condemn Balenciaga Supporters
Fans flooded social media with their distaste for the brand and the celebrities still supporting it. Take a look at what fans were saying on X, formerly known as Twitter:
"Have we already forgot about what went down with Balenciaga?" one person asked.
"Kim Kardashian, Cardi B, and Nicole Kidman are some of the disgusting celebrities still supporting Balenciaga despite their promotion of child sexual abuse," another person wrote. "Normal folks aren't buying this overpriced hideous s***, this brand exists solely for Hollywood degenerates and p****."
"Kim Kardashian is promoting Balenciaga like we forgot about their pedophilic campaign," reads another tweet.
Users on Instagram weren't happy either. Here are some of the comments from Cardi B's latest post:
"Did everyone just forget the Balenciaga drama?" one person wrote.
"But didn't Balenciaga post a weird campaign sexualizing kids?" another asked.
"Supporting a child abuse brand?" one person commented, adding puking emojis.
"Why are y'all still supporting Balenciaga, especially as a mom?" said another.
"Love you Cardi but I thought we canceled them for that foul kid s***?" another fan wrote.
"We haven't forgot what Balenciaga did and now we see ya with them," another person said with a crying emoji.
"Sad that you are still supporting this company," one person added.
"Never ceases to amaze me how celebrities sell their soul for clout," a final fan wrote. "Balenciaga was embroiled in child exploitation & y'all forget all about it to walk on the runway."
