You’d think by now we would have moved on to op eds about other things- and not about how women’s bodies are viewed, women’s agency, consent and more. And yet, here we are. Still talking about it, ad nauseam. Because it doesn’t seem to be getting better. Now in the news is another case of moral policing and objectification of women. There was, of course, the blatantly sexist and entirely unfunny joke by an angsty Jo Koy calling Barbie a movie about “a plastic doll with big boobs”. This was then followed by the collective rage about FKA Twigs’ artsy Clavin Klein ad. The American fashion brand Calvin Klein has always been stirring the hornet’s nest with its sizzling shoots, ever since its first topless campaign starring Kate Moss and Mark Wahlberg took the world by storm in 1992. A significant part of the brand’s DNA are its campaigns with the tagline ‘Calvins or Nothing’, which are a mix of art and provocative imagery. Their recent campaign features British singer and songwriter FKA Twigs, and it has the internet’s panties in a twist, especially in the UK.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) made a bold move to ban the advertisement, stating that it represents FKA Twigs as “stereotypical sexual objects” and that the “image’s composition placed viewers’ focus on the model’s body rather than on the garment being advertised” in response to two public complaints. The ban and the rule were undoubtedly designed to safeguard young customers and women, but they also reeks of sexism for several other reasons. Shot by photographers Mert and Marcus Calvin Klein justified the provocative imagery as natural and neutral, adding that it contained a progressive and enlightened message.
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Twigs’ Response
FKA Twigs took to Instagram to respond to the controversy by stating, “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 [photographers] Mert and Marcus, who gave me a space to express myself exactly how I wanted to – I will not have my narrative changed.”
Internet’s Rage
People are shaming ASA for their archaic approach to the case. FKA Twigs’ discography has always been about empowering her listeners, encouraging them to embrace their uniqueness and let go of the shame. Some are calling the image a brilliance of the human body as they see a powerful woman who isn’t shy about her body.
People are pointing out the absolute double standards, they witnessed as everyone else who modelled for this was equally uncovered but they didn’t get added to any overtly sexual connotations attached to their bodies. Twitter is flooding with tweets defending her and how it still shows the medieval mentality people have for women.
FKA Twigs’ beautiful Calvin Klein ad has been banned as it “objectifies women”.
Jeremy Allen White’s beautiful Calvin Klein ad is fine though.
Maybe the problem is not about how much skin a woman shows, the problem is the depraved thoughts/actions (some) men have towards women. pic.twitter.com/Qk8wftjcg5
— Lou Ali (@Lou_LouD) January 11, 2024
Unpacking the Double Standards
It’s surprising to see this ban come right after our Instagram feed had a deluge of shots of Jeremy Allen White, clad in Calvin Klein underwear. This whole scenario has women calling out the double standards where a man in barely there underwear is seen as a “thirst trap” but a consenting woman’s photoshoot has the internet up in arms.
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While the conversation about the male and female gaze warrants a mention, it certainly does not explain the role of an advertising body to ban what many deem is a stunning photoshoot. That it is being seen as blasphemous or promiscuous seems a bit of a stretch and we’re forced to bring in the aspect of male nudity which is largely celebrated but female nudity is seen as some sort of call to discuss and dissect the woman’s body.
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We’d also like to point out that shots of the campaign’s male stars, Aaron Taylor Johnson and Michael B. Jordan, didn’t raise any eyebrows at the Advertising Standards Authority. The Bear star’s campaign drew straight-out opposite reviews that hailed it as “national landmark” material. The parallel between FKA Twigs and Jeremy Allen White’s advertisements draws attention to the disparities in the way that men’s and women’s bodies are seen in society.
Also, read: From BTS To Barbie, Here’s Why Men Love Hating On The Things Women Enjoy
