FKA Twigs addresses “double standards” following Calvin Klein advert ban
"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."
FKA Twigs has criticised the UK's Advertising Standards Agency [ASA] for "double standards" following the decision to ban a Calvin Klein advert featuring her image.
As first reported by BBC News, the authority decided the photo was "likely to cause serious offence" because Twigs was "overly sexualised". The star appears half-draped in a denim shirt, alongside the words 'Calvins or nothing'.
Two official complaints were lodged with Britain's commercials and marketing watchdog, which have been upheld. According to the ASA, the singer, songwriter, producer and dancer is presented as a "stereotypical sexual object", and the New York-based fashion house should not use the shot again.
FKA Twigs has now published a statement to her social media channels, responding to the objection:
"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 mert and marcus who gave me a space to express myself exactly how i wanted to - i will not have my narrative changed."
No stranger to the fashion world, last year FKA Twigs debuted a new single during a Valentino catwalk show. She was also interviewed by Rolling Stone magazine and asked about the Calvin Klein campaign, which she said showed a "strong woman", and made it clear she would want her grandchildren to see the photos.
A spokesperson for Calvin Klein has also hit back, slamming unrealistic expectations for an underwear advertisement not to feature some degree of nudity. The company also pointed out that "sensitive body areas" were covered.
The decision to ban the campaign in the UK contrasts a previous case in which the ASA was contacted about a Calvin Klein advert featuring Kendall Jenner. It concluded that the commercial did not portray her as a "sexual object" simply because the celebrity was pictured holding her breasts, and deemed the work acceptable by lingerie standards.
