FKA twigs has criticised the decision to ban a Calvin Klein advert featuring the artist after a UK regulator claimed it depicted her as a "stereotypical sexual object".
The poster, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said, was likely to cause serious offence by objectifying women. It shows the artist wearing a denim shirt drawn halfway around her body, with the side of her buttocks and half of one breast visible. Above her, text reads "Calvins or nothing".
Writing on social media, though, FKA twigs, real name Tahliah Barnett, has said the ASA’s ruling is an example of "double standards", referencing a similar Calvin Klein advertising campaign that recently went viral and depicted the actor Jeremy Allen White wearing nothing but Calvin Klein briefs. That advertising campaign has not been banned by the ASA.
Responding to the ASA, Barnett wrote: "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."
She thanked Calvin Klein and photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggot for their work on the advertising campaign, and added that she was "proud" of the photos.
Calvin Klein also defended its advert saying that it was similar to many other campaigns that had been released and approved in the past.
In response to Barnett’s social media post in defence of the poster, an ASA spokesperson said: "Our published ruling sets out why, on this occasion, the ad broke the rules by irresponsibly objectifying a woman and being targeted inappropriately."
