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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Jess Cartner-Morley

Balenciaga apologises for ads featuring bondage bears and child abuse papers

United States Demna Gabriele Galimberti Nicole Kidman Gucci Kering Lawsuit
Nicole Kidman in Balenciaga’s Garde Robe campaign, which included an image featuring paperwork referencing a case about child sexual abuse.
Nicole Kidman in Balenciaga’s Garde Robe campaign, which included an image featuring paperwork referencing a case about child sexual abuse. Photograph: Balenciaga

The luxury fashion house Balenciaga has apologised over adverts that showed children holding teddy bears in bondage gear and others featuring documents about child sexual abuse law as a prop.

The brand admitted “a series of grievous errors for which Balenciaga takes responsibility” over the now withdrawn campaigns, which have prompted furious criticism online and a $25m (£21m) lawsuit against the team behind one of them.

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