Ban On FKA Twigs’ Calvin Klein Ad Partially Lifted

The Calvin Klein ad which was banned by ASA was partially lifted last day. The ASA mentioned the portrayal of FKA Twigs, the lead as a stereotypical sexual object as the reason for the ban. The singer has criticized the decision of ASA calling it double standards. The agency stated that it revised its original decision after a review meeting.

The Partial Lift Of The Ban

The partial lift of the ban was followed by a review by ASA in which they found that the image was not sexually explicit. In the new statement, ASA reported that their ban on the Calvin Klein ad was severely criticized and they are not deaf to this criticism. They made clear that the image that they thought was overtly sexual didn’t present FKA Twigs as a stereotypical sexual object but as confident and in control. Even though the ban was partially removed they maintained their decision to ban the display of the image in an untargeted medium. 

ASA mentioned that ads often appear in people’s lives unexpectedly, hence the partial ban remains as it should be restricted from children’s view. They also clarified that the review was driven by their understanding that their rationale for banning the ad was substantially flawed. They said that they were genuinely interested in hearing people’s opinions and thoughts. ASA also mentioned that they are not afraid to challenge their own thoughts and change their decisions if they find them wrong.

The Reason For The Ban

ASA banned the Calvin Klein ad starring the singer FKA Twigs as it was labeled overly sexualized.  The singer FKA Twigs was featured on the poster with her buttocks and half of a breast exposed in a denim shirt being drawn halfway around her body. A text that read “Calvin or nothing” was also added above her. 

The Advertising Standards Authority ruled out the ad by pointing out that it created a serious issue by sexually objectifying women. ASA also mentioned that the image shifted the focus from the clothing that is being advertised to the physical features of the model. It also noted that the ad portrayed FKA Twigs as a stereotypical sexual object.

Calvin Klein, in defense of the advertisement, said it was similar to ones the company has been publishing in the UK for a long time. The hitmaker Twigs was referred to as a “confident and empowered woman,” and stated that she had worked with the company to create the image and had already approved it before the ad was published. All “conventionally sensitive” body parts were completely covered, and FKA Twigs were in a neutral and natural stance, it was stated. 

Two individuals had complained about the photographs, claiming that they were inappropriate, objectified women, and “overly sexualized” them. Two posters featuring model Kendall Jenner from the same campaign also came under these complaints. However, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) stated that these posters did not highlight Kendall’s body “in a manner that portrayed her as a sexual object” and that the degree of nudity was not excessive for a lingerie advertisement

Read more: Kristen Stewart Shuts Criticism Over Gender-Bending Stone Cover

FKA Twigs Response To The Ban

The singer on her Instagram post expressed her criticism of the ban by ASA. She said that she did not find the sexual objectification as labeled by ASA in the image. Instead, she saw a beautiful strong woman whose incredible body had overcome more pain than anyone can imagine. 

Twigs called the ban the double standards of ASA as several other ads of similar campaigns have been created in the past as well as in the present. She also made clear that she is proud of her physicality and holds the art she creates with it 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 harnessed a unique embodied sensuality. Towards the end of the caption, Twigs thanked the creators of the ad and also clarified that she would not change her narrative.