FKA Twigs rejected a British advertising agency's ban of her Calvin Klein poster on Wednesday night, saying she felt there was a “double standard” at play that led to the controversial call-out.
The 36-year-old British singer-songwriter posted her thoughts to her 2.4 million Instagram followers on Wednesday evening after a Calvin Klein poster in which she posed in a T-shirt was banned by Britain's Standards Authority. because it would likely cause serious offense by objectifying women.
In the poster, released in April 2023, FKA Twigs was seen donning a denim shirt pulled halfway around her body, leaving the side of her buttocks and half of one breast exposed, with the caption: ” Calvins or nothing.”
The music artist, whose full name is Tahliah Debrett Barnett, told her 2.4 million followers: “Given the review of other past and current campaigns of this nature, I can't help but feel there is a double standard here.”
FKA Twigs said she “didn't see the 'stereotypical sexual object' they labeled me,” referring to the ASA's decision to ban the advert after receiving two complaints that the images ” overly sexualized”, offensive and irresponsible. They claimed they objectified women and were portrayed inappropriately.
FKA Twigs, 36, rejected a British advertising agency's ban on her Calvin Klein poster on Wednesday night, saying she felt there was a “double standard” at play that led to the controversial call-out
The British singer-songwriter, who was pictured in London last month, posted her thoughts to her 2.4 million Instagram followers on Wednesday evening
“I see a beautiful, strong, dark-skinned woman whose incredible body has overcome more pain than you can imagine,” said FKA Twigs, who has been linked to stars like Robert Pattinson, Shia LaBeouf and Matty Healy in the past .
Calvin Klein defended the advert, saying it was similar to those that have been published in the UK for many years.
Bosses at the fashion brand said FKA Twigs, who she described as a “confident and self-assured woman”, worked with Calvin Klein to create the image and approved it before publication.
FKA Twigs compared herself to previous style icons who weren't afraid to take risks.
“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 have broken down barriers about what it looks like, empowered “To be and to take advantage of a unique embodied sensuality,” she said.
She thanked Calvin Klein and her staff for giving her “the space to express myself exactly the way I wanted.”
FKA Twigs concluded, “I will not allow my narrative to be changed.”
Calvin Klein defended the advert, saying it was similar to those that have been published in the UK for many years.
A Calvin Klein poster featuring British musician FKA Twigs (pictured) has been banned because it was likely to cause serious offense by objectifying women
In the poster, which debuted in April last year, the singer was seen wearing a denim shirt pulled halfway around her body, leaving the side of her buttocks and half of one breast exposed (last month was FKA -branches shown).
Bosses at the fashion brand said FKA Twigs, who she described as a “confident and self-assured woman”, worked with Calvin Klein to create the image and approved it before publication.
It added that all “traditionally sensitive” areas of the body were fully covered and the subject was in a natural and neutral position.
The ASA said: “We considered that the composition of the image drew the viewer's focus to the model's body rather than the clothing being advertised.”
“The ad used nudity and focused on FKA Twigs' physical characteristics rather than clothing, to the extent that she was portrayed as a stereotypical sexual object.”
We therefore concluded that the complaint was irresponsible and likely to constitute a serious criminal offence.”
The ASA did not ban two posters from the same campaign featuring model Kendall Jenner based on complaints on the same grounds, noting that they did not focus on her body in a way that portrayed her as a sexual object and that the level of nudity did not went beyond what people would expect from a lingerie ad.
Web has contacted Calvin Klein and a representative for FKA Twigs for comment.
FKA twigs were also featured in a Calvin Klein advertising campaign in 2016.
The ASA did not ban two posters from the same campaign featuring model Kendall Jenner (pictured) following complaints on the same grounds
It turns out that they didn't focus on her body in a way that portrayed her as a sexual object, and the level of nudity didn't go beyond what people would expect from a lingerie ad
The ban comes after The Bear star Jeremy Allen White showed off his incredibly toned body for a new ad campaign for Calvin Klein.
The 32-year-old Iron Claw actor showed off his toned abs and bulging biceps while going shirtless for the underwear ad.
Jeremy rocked the iconic brand's briefs for the ad campaign while posing on the roof of a building in New York City.
The dashing star was photographed by Mert Alas. The handsome star was also a part of a short clip for the brand.
The clip began with Jeremy, wearing a white tank top and black shorts, walking up the stairs to the roof of the building and stripping down to his underwear to work out.
He also struck some shirtless poses and gave the camera smoldering and mesmerizing looks.
Jeremy gained 40 pounds of muscle to play late pro wrestler Kerry Von Erich in “The Iron Claw,” which hit theaters in December.
He starred alongside Zac Efron, Lily James and Harris Dickinson in The Iron Claw, directed by Sean Durkin.
Bears star Jeremy Allen White showed off his incredibly toned body for an ad campaign for Calvin Klein
The handsome 32-year-old actor showed off his toned abs and bulging biceps while going shirtless for the underwear ad
Jeremy was seen putting on a pair of jeans while wearing a pair of white briefs, giving the camera a smoldering look
The film is based on the real Von Erich brothers – a famous wrestling family that has experienced many tragedies.
He previously told Esquire how he got fit for the role, revealing that he “eats all the time.”
“In the morning I would eat waffles and almond butter. I kept eating turkey meatballs and avocado in the middle of the day. “It's really just disgusting,” he told the magazine.
“You try to consume as much as you can and to be honest you don't feel good.” “I've been training too but I don't know, trying to get that big is no way to live,” Jeremy said.
Interestingly, in August, Jeremy commented on a Calvin Klein ad featuring Euphoria's Alexa Demie.
The stunning actress wore a bra and underwear in the hot shoots for the brand.
Jeremy commented on the ad, which was shared on the brand's Instagram, saying: “Wow.”
The incredibly pretty star was photographed lying on her stomach in another picture
The handsome star was also a part of a short clip for the brand.\
The clip began with Jeremy, wearing a white tank top and shorts, walking up the stairs to the roof of the building and stripping down to his underwear to work out
He then took off his shorts to reveal his underwear underneath
Jeremy started running in just his underwear – showing off his muscular figure
He also struck some shirtless poses and gave the camera smoldering and mesmerizing looks
Another camera angle showed his toned chest and stomach
Jeremy plays chef Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto in “The Bear.”
He gained 40 pounds of muscle to play the late pro wrestler Kerry Von Erich in “The Iron Claw,” which hit theaters in December
However, the two stars are not together. Jeremy is currently dating singer Rosalia.
The Shameless star has two children with ex-wife Addison Timlin: daughters Ezer Billie, four, and Dolores Wild, two.
They married in 2019 and Addison filed for divorce in May 2023.
Jeremy plays chef Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto in “The Bear”; He previously starred as Phillip “Lip” Gallagher on “Shameless” from 2011 to 2021.