'Disappointing': Kim Kardashian faces backlash as she shares photos from Balenciaga's 2024 fall runaway amid controversial ad campaign
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'The Kardashians' star Kim Kardashian recently shared a series of behind-the-scenes images from the Balenciaga runway show in Los Angeles two weeks after it took place.
In the photos, Kim flaunted her curves in black and nude coloured leggings with a cream turtleneck and a black zip-up. The reality star posed alongside sister Kendall Jenner who sported a black maxi gown.
Kim also shared photos with movie star Salma Hayek and her husband Francois-Henri Pinault, who is the chairman and CEO of Kering and president of Groupe Artemis. Additionally, Kim struck a pose with Cardi B, who made her runway debut at the Balenciaga fall show.
Kim also shared a behind-the-scenes snap of herself with her youngest daughter Chicago. The star posted a photo with Balenciaga's creative director Demna Gvasalia.
The 2023 Balenciaga runway show was held a year after the consumers claimed the brand's ad campaign showed children posing with bears wearing BDSM gear, which promoted 'child exploitation'.
It is therefore, no wonder that Kim received backlash for attending the Balenciaga event after the 2022 controversial holiday campaign.
An Instagram user commented, "So we’re just gonna forget the whole scandal?"
Another person added, "You got kids and you support them? smh."
Another critic noted, "From civil rights advocacy to this. Disappointing."
Another follower said, "Money is more important to her, even kourt told us that."
One social media user stated, "Na Kim, we aren’t gonna forget what happened."
Another comment reads, "This is what it looks like when you have sold your soul for money."
One user penned, "Who do you keep supporting this brand?? This out is just as ridiculous as their ads."
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Balenciaga releases apology after allegedly promoting 'child exploitation'
In 2022, Balenciaga released two campaigns, which were owned by Kering, the French luxury conglomerate that also owns brands like Gucci and Saint Laurent. The first campaign featured photos of children clutching handbags that look like teddy bears in bondage gear.
Another campaign featured photos that included paperwork about child p*****graphy laws. Both ad campaigns sparked controversy all over the Internet. Fans accused Balenciaga of condoning child exploitation.
Two weeks after the backlash, the brand issued a statement admitting 'a series of grievous errors for which Balenciaga takes responsibility'.
The fashion house also announced through its website about its ongoing 'internal and external investigations' and 'new controls' and said it was reaching out to 'organizations who specialize in child protection and aim at ending child abuse and exploitation.'
Kim Kardashian loses thousands of followers after Balenciaga event
After Kim Kardashian attended Balenciaga's recent Fall 2024 fashion show, she lost thousands of social media followers. Kim faced backlash and reportedly lost around 30K Instagram followers.
However, Kim's sister, Kendall Jenner and rapper Cardi B also lost Instagram followers. Although Cardi B walked the runway, she reportedly lost just 133.
Meanwhile, Kendal lost over 50K followers. Surprisingly, Nicole Kidman, who was announced as the brand's newest ambassador around the same time as the show, gained followers instead of losing them, with her following increasing by approximately 5,000 followers.
Kim Kardashian bids for Balenciaga dress
Kim Kardashian recently bade a war with television host Lauren Sánchez for a Balenciaga couture dress. In a recent interview with Vogue, Jeff Bezos' fiance, Sánchez reflected on the binding with Kim.
As the women battled for the dress at the auction put on by the Kering Foundation during New York Fashion Week, Kim suggested that the two 'share it. She said, "I thought, you wear it once, I’ll wear it once, it’ll be so cute."
Seeing how badly both Kim and Sánchez wanted the look, the Kering Foundation offered to make two dresses and the women paid $200,000 each.
