Balenciaga ‘BDSM teddy bear’ photographer speaks out amid backlash
It was in beary bad taste.
The photographer who shot the controversial Balenciaga ad featuring BDSM teddy bears modeled by children has broken his silence.
Gabriele Galimberti issued a statement on Instagram Wednesday morning after the inappropriate ad was pulled by the fashion house.
“Following the hundreds of hate mails and messages I received as a result of the photos I took for the Balenciaga campaign, I feel compelled to make this statement,” Galimberti wrote.
“I am not in a position to comment [on] Balenciaga’s choices, but I must stress that I was not entitled in whatsoever manner to neither choose the products, nor the models, nor the combination of the same,” he continued.
He explained that he was permitted only to light the prepared scene and shoot in his “signature style,” but noted that the “direction of the campaign and the choice of the objects displayed” were not in his control.
The campaign ad, featuring young children modeling what appear to be teddy bears with bondage gear, was met with criticisms and allegations of normalizing sexual fetishizations and abuse of children.
Eagle-eyed online investigators pointed out that another ad showed what appeared to be legal documents from a Supreme Court case that ruled on federal laws regarding child pornography.
“I suspect that any person prone to pedophilia searches on the web and has unfortunately a too easy access to images completely different than mine, absolutely explicit in their awful content,” Galimberti said.
Galimberti claimed that the “lynching” he has received is aimed at the wrong party “and distract from the real problem, and criminals.” He also made sure to note that he did not photograph the ad with the SCOTUS document.
Balenciaga has since pulled the controversial ads and apologized for the disturbing photos.
A spokesperson for the luxury fashion brand told The Post, “We sincerely apologize for any offense our holiday campaign may have caused. Our plush bear bags should not have been featured with children in this campaign. We have immediately removed the campaign from all platforms.”
The company added in an Instagram Story, posted before Galimberti’s statement: “We apologize for displaying unsettling documents in our campaign. We take this matter very seriously and are taking legal action against the parties responsible for creating the set and including unapproved items for our spring ’23 campaign photoshoot. We strongly condemn abuse of children in any form. We stand for children safety and well-being.”
The fashion house has made multiple headlines in recent weeks. The company also faced calls to end their relationship with Kanye West after his anti-Semitic rants, which they eventually did.