FKA twigs has stood up for a Calvin Klein ad she starred in, which was recently prohibited by the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).
The poster advertisement featured the singer wearing a shirt that covered part of her body. After receiving two complaints, the ASA stated that the ad portrayed her as a “typical sexual object” and that the way the image was composed drew attention to the model’s body rather than the clothing being promoted. Calvin Klein argued that the pose in the ad was “natural and neutral” and that the campaign carried a message of progressiveness and enlightenment.
FKA twigs has issued a response to the ban through a statement on her Instagram account.
I do not fit the stereotype of a sexual object that they have assigned to me. Instead, I see myself as a beautiful and strong woman of color whose incredible body has endured more pain than most people can imagine.
After examining previous and current campaigns of a similar nature, I cannot help but notice some inconsistencies. Therefore, I would like to clarify my stance…
I take pride in my physicality and I hold my artistic creations to the same standards as influential women like Josephine Baker, Eartha Kitt, and Grace Jones. These women shattered barriers and redefined what it means to be empowered and embrace a distinct sensuality. I am grateful to CK and photographers Mert and Marcus for providing me with a platform to express myself freely. I will not allow anyone to alter my story.
Her reference to “other campaigns past and current” likely encompasses the high-profile current men’s Calvin Klein underwear campaign fronted by US actor Jeremy Allen White. The adverts, which feature a muscular White in only a pair of boxer briefs, have attracted huge attention on social media and beyond since their debut last week. A rapturous New Yorker essay describes the photoshoot – which displays considerably more skin than the twigs image – as “a time stamp of our own historical moment, a period of foiled pleasures and desires left on simmer”.
FKA twigs made mention of her journey to heal from pain, which involved a surgery in 2017 to eliminate six fibroid tumors from her uterus. After the procedure, she described the tumors as being equivalent to two cooking apples, three kiwis, and a couple of strawberries in size, causing her daily discomfort. She attempted to remain courageous, but the pain was unbearable at times and she began to question if her body would ever fully recover. As a result, her confidence as a woman was greatly impacted.
Two people who filed complaints about the FKA twigs commercial also raised concerns about two Calvin Klein commercials featuring model Kendall Jenner. However, the ASA did not prohibit these ads, stating that one did not excessively sexualize her and the other was in line with typical lingerie advertisements.
Source: theguardian.com
