Vandals target Balenciaga stores after BDSM ads: ‘Children r not sexual objects’
Balenciaga’s flagship stores are being targeted by vandals outraged by the celeb-favorite fashion house’s disturbing bondage-themed ads featuring young kids.
Photos taken late Tuesday show two storefronts close to Balenciaga’s Beverly Hills store on Rodeo Drive covered in graffiti decrying the ads.
Both sides have large stick-figure drawings of upset-looking kids, with one side saying “Not 4 sex!!!” and the other “Children r not sexual objects.”
Earlier the same day, the under-fire company’s store on London’s exclusive Bond Street was daubed with “paedophilia,” using the British spelling, at least three times.
Street artist Joe Bloggs took credit after he was caught in the act as he stenciled the disparaging word onto the window.
A TikTok user shared video of him at work, writing: “POV: you’re walking through central London enjoying the lights and see Balenciaga getting [canceled].”
“I did it due to the abhorrent photoshoots Balenciaga did and their associations with various… people including Lotta Volkova,” the so-called “luxury” vandal told Newsweek of the brand’s controversial stylist.
The attacks follow escalating outrage at the ads, which feature young children holding dolls outfitted with BDSM garb as well as one with papers from a child pornography court ruling.
The Kering-owned fashion house apologized Monday, writing: “We strongly condemn child abuse; it was never our intent to include it in the narrative.”
“Our plush bear bags and the gift collection should have not been featured with children,” the company admitted, saying it “was a wrong choice by Balenciaga.”
Still, the protests have continued, with furious fashionistas destroying Balenciaga products and calling for boycotts — while also condemning celebs like Kim Kardashian for not disassociating from the brand.