FKA twigs on Wednesday evening pushed back on a UK ad agency’s ban on her Calvin Klein poster, saying she felt that there were ‘double standards’ in play leading to the controversial call.
The British singer-songwriter, 36, posted her thoughts to her 2.4 million Instagram followers on Wednesday evening after a Calvin Klein poster of her posing in a shirt was banned by the U.K.’s Advertising Standards Authority for being likely to cause serious offense by objectifying women.
The poster, which was released in April of 2023, featured FKA Twigs donning a denim shirt drawn halfway around her body, leaving the side of her buttocks and half of one breast exposed, with text reading: ‘Calvins or nothing.’
The musical artist, whose full name is Tahliah Debrett Barnett, told her 2.4 million followers that ‘in light of reviewing other campaigns past and current of this nature, i can’t help but feel there are some double standards here.’
FKA twigs said that she did ‘not see the “stereotypical sexual object” that they have labelled me,’ in reference to ASA’s decision to ban the ad after receiving a pair of complaints about the images being ‘overly sexualized’, offensive and irresponsible, alleging they objectified women and were displayed inappropriately.
FKA twigs, 36, on Wednesday evening pushed back on a UK ad agency’s ban earlier in the day on her Calvin Klein poster, saying she felt that there were ‘double standards’ in play leading to the controversial call
The British singer-songwriter, pictured last month in London, posted her thoughts to her 2.4 million Instagram followers on Wednesday evening
‘I see a beautiful strong woman of colour whose incredible body has overcome more pain than you can imagine,’ said FKA twigs, who has past been linked to stars such as Robert Pattinson, Shia LaBeouf and Matty Healy.
Defending the ad, Calvin Klein said it was similar to those it had been releasing in the UK for many years.
Bosses of the fashion brand said FKA twigs, who it described as a ‘confident and empowered woman’, had collaborated with Calvin Klein to produce the image and had approved it before publication.
FKA twigs wrapped up in comparing herself to past style icons who weren’t afraid to take risks.
‘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,’ she said.
She thanked Calvin Klein and her collaborators who gave her ‘a space to express myself exactly how i wanted to.’
FKA twigs wrapped up in saying, ‘I will not have my narrative changed.’
Defending the ad, Calvin Klein said it was similar to those it had been releasing in the UK for many years.
A poster for Calvin Klein featuring British musician FKA twigs (pictured) has been banned for being likely to cause serious offence by objectifying women
The poster, seen in April last year, featured the singer wearing a denim shirt that was drawn halfway around her body, leaving the side of her buttocks and half of one breast exposed (FKA twigs pictured last month)
Bosses of the fashion brand said FKA twigs, who it described as a ‘confident and empowered woman’, had collaborated with Calvin Klein to produce the image and had approved it before publication.
It added that all ‘conventionally sensitive’ body areas were fully covered and the subject was in a natural and neutral position.
The ASA said: ‘We considered the image’s composition placed viewers’ focus on the model’s body rather than on the clothing being advertised.
‘The ad used nudity and centred on FKA twigs’ physical features rather than the clothing, to the extent that it presented her as a stereotypical sexual object.
We therefore concluded the ad was irresponsible and likely to cause serious offence.’
The ASA did not ban two posters from the same campaign featuring model Kendall Jenner following complaints on the same grounds, finding that they did not focus on her body in a manner that portrayed her as a sexual object and the level of nudity was not beyond that which people would expect for a lingerie ad.
MailOnline has contacted Calvin Klein and a representative for FKA twigs for comment.
FKA twigs also featured in a Calvin Klein ad campaign in 2016.
The ASA did not ban two posters from the same campaign featuring model Kendall Jenner (pictured) following complaints on the same grounds
It found that they did not focus on her body in a manner that portrayed her as a sexual object and the level of nudity was not beyond that which people would expect for a lingerie ad
The ban comes after The Bear star Jeremy Allen White showcased his incredibly toned body for a new ad campaign for Calvin Klein.
The Iron Claw actor, 32, put his chiseled abs and his bulging biceps on full display while going shirtless for the underwear ad.
Jeremy rocked the iconic brand’s briefs for the ad campaign while posing on the top of a building in New York City.
The dashing star was photographed by Mert Alas. The good-looking star was also part of a short clip for the brand.
The clip started with Jeremy wearing a white tank top and black shorts walking upstairs to the roof of the building, shedding his clothes down to his underwear to work out.
He also struck a few poses while shirtless, giving smouldering and mesmerising looks to the camera.
Jeremy gained 40 pounds of muscle to play the late pro wrestler Kerry Von Erich in The Iron Claw, which was released in December.
He starred alongside Zac Efron, Lily James and Harris Dickinson in The Iron Claw, which was directed by Sean Durkin.
The Bear star Jeremy Allen White showcased his incredibly toned body for an ad campaign for Calvin Klein
The handsome actor, 32, put his chiseled abs and his bulging biceps on full display while going shirtless for the underwear ad
Jeremy seen putting on a pair of jeans while wearing white briefs, giving a smoldering look to the camera
The movie is based on the real life Von Erich brothers – a famed wrestling family that dealt with a lot of tragedy.
He previously told Esquire how he bulked up for the role, revealing he was ‘eating all the time.’
‘In the morning I would have waffles, almond butter. In the middle of the day, I was eating turkey patties and avocado all the time. It’s really just gross,’ he explained to the magazine.
‘You’re trying to consume as much as you possibly can, and to be honest, you don’t feel great. I was training as well, but, I don’t know, trying to get that big, it’s no way to live,’ Jeremy said.
Interestingly enough, in August Jeremy commented on a Calvin Klein ad starring Euphoria’s Alexa Demie.
The stunning actress wore a bra and underwear in the smouldering shots for the brand.
Jeremy commented under the ad shared to the brand’s Instagram, writing: ‘Wow.’
The incredibly handsome star was snapped laying on his stomach in another image
The good-looking star was also part of a short clip for the brand.\
The clip started with Jeremy wearing a white tank top and shorts walking upstairs to the roof of the building, shedding his clothes down to his underwear to work out
He then took off his shorts to reveal his briefs beneath
Jeremy started walking in just his briefs – with his muscled form on display
He also struck a few poses while shirtless, giving smoldering and mesmerizing looks to the camera
Another camera angle showed off his toned chest and stomach
Jeremy stars as chef Carmen ‘Carmy’ Berzatto in The Bear
He gained 40 pounds of muscle to play the late pro wrestler Kerry Von Erich in The Iron Claw, which was released in December
However, the two stars are not dating. Jeremy is currently dating singer Rosalia.
The Shameless star has two children with ex-wife Addison Timlin: daughters Ezer Billie, four, and Dolores Wild, two.
They married in 2019, with Addison filing for divorce in May 2023.
Jeremy stars as chef Carmen ‘Carmy’ Berzatto in The Bear; he previously starred as Phillip ‘Lip’ Gallagher in Shameless from 2011 until 2021.