The advertising watchdog has been accused of “double standards” after banning a Calvin Klein advert featuring a half-naked FKA twig over the years while allowing numerous other adverts featuring similar nudity.
A poster of British singer-songwriter FKA Twigs posing in a T-shirt has been banned by Britain's Standards Authority because it was likely to cause serious offense by objectifying women.
In the Calvin Klein poster, released in April, the 36-year-old was seen donning a denim shirt that was pulled halfway around her body, leaving the side of her buttocks and half of her chest exposed, with the words “Calvins or nothing”.
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.
FKA Twig's image bears striking similarities to a Moschino photo shoot with singer Katy Perry, which also exposed one side of her body.
And the ban also comes after 32-year-old “The Bear” star Jeremy Allen White put his body on display for a new ad campaign for Calvin Klein, showing off his chiseled abs and biceps while posing for the underwear – went shirtless.
Calvin Klein is famous for its risqué ads that featured big names like Jamie Dornan and Freddie Ljungberg posing in pants, using an intimate photo on the beach to promote its perfume, and hosting a controversial photoshoot with Kate Moss in 1992 – prompting critics to question : Why is the FKA Twigs campaign different?
On Wednesday night, FKA twigs rejected a British advertising agency's ban on her Calvin Klein poster, saying she felt there was a “double standard” at play, which led to the controversial call-out
Singer Katy Perry poses at a Moschino photo shoot – the image has similarities to the pose of FKA Twigs
The ASA did not ban two posters from the same campaign featuring model Kendall Jenner (pictured) following complaints on the same grounds
Bear star Jeremy Allen White showed off his toned body for an ad campaign for Calvin Klein, but the campaign was allowed – unlike the FKA Twigs poster
Kate Moss and Mark Wahlberg pose topless in a campaign for Calvin Klein in 1992 – now the FKA Twigs ad that shows one side of her body has been banned
Freddie Ljungberg appears in only his underwear in a Calvin Klein ad. Meanwhile, the FKA Twigs advert, in which she poses with a shirt draped over her, was banned by the UK's Standards Authority
Jamie Dornan poses in branded underwear for a Calvin Klein advert – but the FKA Twigs advert, in which she poses in a shirt that hangs over one side of her body, has been banned
Calvin Klein is famous for its risque ads, which use this intimate image on the beach to promote its perfume – but a “risqué” ad featuring singer FKA Twigs was banned
David Beckham promotes Emporio Armani (EA) underwear. A brand expert said the ban on FKA Twigs advertising was a “double standard” as many brands use the body as a “tool” for advertising
When questioned today, the ASA referred Web to its published judgment, which included the claim that in the FKA Twigs advert “her nudity and facial expression, including a direct gaze and an open mouth, gave the image an overall sexual overture.” We therefore considered that (the ad) was overtly sexual and was not suitable for display in a non-targeted medium.”
Brand and culture expert Nick Ede has accused the ASA of “double standards” – but he said representatives for Calvin Klein and the British singer-songwriter would not be unhappy about the extra exposure.
“There are many adverts that appear to have passed the ASA and not been banned, notably the CK men's campaign, which features The Bear star Jeremy Allen White revealing his chiseled body, and much more,” he said.
“The suggestion that FKA Twiggs is a sexual object and not someone who promotes clothes is nonsense and they need to figure out how to justify Jeremy and not FKA.”
“The ad clearly states: 'Calvins or Nothing!'” and in this case she's wearing a Calvin Klein denim shirt. It's not more sexual or objectifying than recent Calvin Klein ads starring Kendall Jenner or other brands like Versace, Jean Paul Gaultier and even David Beckham's latest fragrance ad using the naked body as a sales tool.”
But Mr Ede added: “Calvin Klein won't be too disappointed by all the controversy this campaign has caused as they are once again the talk of the town, but they are investing a lot of money into buying advertising space and the talent FKA Twigs, the photographer and the glamor team will therefore be disappointed that people won't see the final campaign.
“The ASA must have clear and defined standards that allow brands to temperature check their campaigns. One of the most important things here is the approval of the talent and FKA has been interviewed and on her social media saying how proud she is of her campaign which has been supported by many celebrities including Michaela Cole who described it as empowering for women and FKA looked.
“There needs to be that extra element for this type of advertising to be seen and applauded, just as there was for the men with Jeremy.”
On Wednesday night, FKA Twigs spoke out against the British ad agency's ban of her Calvin Klein poster, saying she felt there was a “double standard” at play, which led to the controversial call-out.
The music artist, whose full name is Tahliah Debrett Barnett, told her 2.4 million Instagram followers: “Reviewing other past and current campaigns of this nature, I can’t help but feel like there is a double standard here. “
The British singer-songwriter, who was pictured in London last month, posted her thoughts to her 2.4 million Instagram followers on Wednesday evening
FKA Twigs said she “didn't see the 'stereotypical sexual object' they called me,” referring to the ASA's decision to ban the ad after receiving two complaints that the images ” overly sexualized”, offensive and irresponsible. They claimed they objectified women and were portrayed inappropriately.
“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.”
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.”
FKA twigs were also featured in a Calvin Klein advertising campaign in 2016.
The ASA found that the advert for Kendall Jenner did not focus on her body in a way that portrayed her as a sexual object and that the level of nudity did not go beyond what people would expect from a lingerie advert would. But the FKA Twigs ad was banned
The ban comes after The Bear star Jeremy Allen White showed off his incredibly toned body for a new ad campaign for Calvin Klein.
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 star was also 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.
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 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.”
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.
Web had previously contacted Calvin Klein and a representative for FKA Twigs for comment.