FKA twigs responds to the banning of her nearly naked Calvin Klein ad
Think of Calvin Klein and you'll likely picture the label's ubiquitous black and white adverts featuring beautiful models in various states of undress, usually branded with the CK logo on any visible waistband available. Campaigns starring Brooke Shields and Kate Moss are *still* referenced to this day, while more recently Kendall Jenner, Lila Moss and not forgetting Jeremy Allen White's debut just last week have featured in the iconic ads.
But after years of pushing the boundaries, a poster featuring FKA twigs has been banned. The poster in question sees the artist posing completely naked save for a button-down denim shirt draped loosely around one side of her body. After the campaign's release in April 2023 (which also featured images of Kendall Jenner), the Advertising Standards Agency received two complaints that the images of both the artist and the model were overly sexualised and objectified women.
While the claims against the images of Jenner were dismissed, today the ASA upheld the issues against FKA twigs' Calvin Klein ad, banning the ad from appearing on any further posters. The decision was reached after it was concluded that "the image’s composition placed viewers’ focus on the model’s body rather than on the clothing being advertised."
"The ad used nudity and centred on FKA Twig’s physical features rather than the clothing, to the extent that it presented her as a stereotypical sexual object. We therefore concluded [the] ad was irresponsible and likely to cause serious offence."
FKA twigs took to Instagram to post her response to the ASA's ruling. Sharing the condemned image, she wrote in the caption, "i do not see the ‘stereotypical sexual object’ that they have labelled me. i see a beautiful strong woman of colour whose incredible body has overcome more pain than you can imagine."
"in light of reviewing other campaigns past and current of this nature, i can’t help but feel there are some double standards here. so to be clear…
i am proud of my physicality and hold the art i create with my vessel to the standards of women like josephine baker, eartha kitt and grace jones who broke down barriers of what it looks like to be empowered and harness a unique embodied sensuality. thank you to ck and mert and marcus who gave me a space to express myself exactly how i wanted to - i will not have my narrative changed."
Fans of the artist took to the comments section to show their support and echo their disagreement with the banning. Some of FKA twigs' famous friends also commented with Paloma Faith writing a lengthy message that read, "People just envy you because you are one of the most talented and beautiful creatures on earth. Let them be humbled by it not threatened like I am. You are incredible xxxx".
Fellow musician Raye simply left a red heart emoji, while Bridgerton actress Phoebe Dyenvor added, "🙌🙌".
While Calvin Klein has yet to comment, Mert Alas – the photographer alongside Marcus Piggott who captured FKA twigs for the brand – spoke exclusively to Rolling Stone at the time of the campaign's release, saying, "[twigs] first is a dear friend of mine. We have a lot of creative experiences and inspirational conversations together, so I wanted her involvement in Calvin Klein to be very genuine and reflect that."
FKA twigs also spoke to the publication, saying of her involvement with the brand, "Doing [this campaign] means I can be who I am – a strong woman. That isn’t going to go in and out of fashion. When I’m in my 60s and have grandchildren, I can show them these pictures and say, ‘Your grandmother was strong.’"
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