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Who is Michael Borremans? Eagle-eyed web sleuths spot something very sinister in SICK Balenciaga campaign

Balenciaga is getting slammed once again on social media as one of their recent ads featured a book whose cover shows a child covered in blood

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Balenciaga is in the crosshairs of social media once again after eagle-eyed web sleuths spotted something sinister in a Balenciaga campaign and which they slammed as 'sick'. One Twitter user posted a couple of pictures of a Balenciaga ad where a model was seen sitting and posing for a snap. However, when the picture was zoomed in, it showed a book whose cover shows a child covered in blood. The book was reportedly published by Belgian artist Michaël Borremans as part of his recent series The Badger's Song.

Several social media users slammed Balenciaga for using such books in their ads. One user wrote on Twitter, “I just read the descriptions of two different books by this guy, and it is some more dark, sick, child-related stuff. One painting of his has children covered only in blood with a severed hand. There are some more disturbing images by him.” “This is not an accident,” another added. “SICK!” yet another user simply remarked. 

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According to reports, Michaël Borremans was born in 1963 in Geraardsbergen, Belgium. He is a famous Belgian painter and director whose painting style is influenced by Édouard Manet and Edgar Degas's paintings as well as the art of the 18th century. He is often regarded as one of the most renowned and sought-after contemporary artists of his generation. The Badger's Song meanwhile portrays Borremans’s works from 2013 and the book is divided into seven separate painting series. According to Amazon.com, in the book, his paintings depict scenarios that are darker and more bizarre than they initially look. In one image, children dance in a circle while dressed in black robes, and in another, a woman tries to shove her entire hand into her mouth.

The latest criticism comes after Balenciaga issued an apology after backlash over a recent ad campaign, which featured children holding teddy bears dressed in bondage gear. On Tuesday, November 22, Balenciaga posted an apology statement on its Instagram Story, adding, "We apologize for displaying unsettling documents in our campaign. We take this matter very seriously and are taking legal action against the parties responsible for creating the set and including unapproved items for our Spring 23 campaign photoshoot. We strongly condemn the abuse of children in any form. We stand for children's safety and well-being.” 

The brand also stated in another Instagram Story that 'plush bear bags should not have been featured with children in this campaign' and added that images of the campaign had been taken down from all of the brand's platforms.