FKA Twigs’ Defends Her Banned Calvin Klein ‘Sexual Object’ Ad
FKA Twigs’ Calvin Klein advertisement is being censored in the U.K. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned an ad featuring the “cellophane” singer wearing a denim shirt draped around…
FKA Twigs attends The Fashion Awards 2023 presented by Pandora at the Royal Albert Hall on December 04, 2023 in London, England.
Gareth Cattermole/Getty ImagesFKA Twigs' Calvin Klein advertisement is being censored in the U.K. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned an ad featuring the "cellophane" singer wearing a denim shirt draped around her and exposing the right side of her nude body. The ASA claimed that the “image’s composition placed viewers’ focus on the model’s body rather than on the clothing being advertised” and that her “physical features” had “presented her as a stereotypical sexual object.” The organization added, "We therefore concluded the ad was irresponsible and likely to cause serious offense." Roping in model Kendall Jenner's CK ads, the ASA found both campaigns to be objectifying women and inappropriate for display in an "untargeted medium." However, for Jenner's ads, the ASA concluded that they "were unlikely to be seen as irresponsible or cause serious or widespread offense on the basis of objectification."
Double Standards
Twigs, whose real name is Tahliah Debrett Barnett, took to Instagram on Wednesday (January 10) following the ASA ban. She wrote in the caption: "i do not see the ‘stereotypical sexual object’ that they have labelled me. i see a beautiful strong woman of color whose incredible body has overcome more pain than you can imagine." The singer called out past and current campaigns that are just as risqué and have not been banned as hers has. 36-year-old Twigs adds that she feels there are "double standards" in play with her ad. She further stated in her caption how she proudly holds her "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 concluded by standing her ground, writing, "I will not have my narrative changed."
Fine For Jeremy Allen White
In the comments section, one fan wrote: "So frustrating to see your name + objectifying women in the same headline.. nonsense As if your art hasn't empowered a lot of us women to embrace our uniqueness and let go of shame." Another said: "The double standard is beyond. my feed has been ppl foaming over the sexual objectiveness of the jeremy allen whites campaign." One person praised Twigs' pose, writing: "I see discipline in this photo. Many many years of discipline and thoughtful caretaking of the self." Another person commented: "Well said, they’re perfectly happy to keep the images of submissive sexuality but a strong, powerful woman is too much for them. Love u."
Calvin Klein defended the ad in a statement, claiming her poses were “natural and neutral.” For being a "progressive" brand, Calvin Klein stood by the two "confident and empowered women." They further provided excerpts from interviews that Jenner and FKA Twigs had given to magazines about the ad campaign as evidence that they felt a sense of empowerment and confidence from participating in it. Regarding the level of nudity in the ads, CK said their clothes include underwear, so a degree of nudity should be expected.
21 of the Most Influential Women Musicians of the 21st Century
Women have been present in the creation and production of music since the very beginning, shaping and changing the music industry, the public’s tastes, and popular styles for thousands of years.
We have highlighted 21 of the most influential women musicians of the past two decades in pop music. To qualify, the musician has to be primarily considered a 21st-century act. See who made our list below.
Adele
Sascha Steinbach/Getty ImagesCOLOGNE, GERMANY - DECEMBER 06: Adele attends the television show 2015! Menschen, Bilder, Emotionen - RTL Jahresrueckblick on December 6, 2015 in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Sascha Steinbach/Getty Images)
Alicia Keys
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 12: Alicia Keys attends the 2019 Billboard Women In Music at Hollywood Palladium on December 12, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Amy Winehouse
Matt Cardy/Getty ImagesGLASTONBURY, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 22: Amy Winehouse performs on the Pyramid Stage at Worthy Farm, Pilton near Glastonbury, on June 22 2007 in Somerset, England. The festival, that was started by dairy farmer Michael Eavis in 1970, has grown into the largest music festival in Europe. This year's festival is the biggest yet and will have headline acts including The Who, The Artic Monkeys and The Killers. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
Avril Lavigne
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesNEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 12: Avril Lavigne attends the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards at Barclays Center on September 12, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Beyoncé
Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesINDIO, CA - APRIL 14: Beyonce Knowles performs onstage during 2018 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival Weekend 1 at the Empire Polo Field on April 14, 2018 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella)
Cardi B
Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesLAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 26: Rapper Cardi B performs during the 2019 Adult Video News Awards at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on January 26, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
FKA Twigs
Steve Jennings/Getty ImagesOAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 06: Singer FKA Twigs performs at The Fox Theater on November 6, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images)
Grimes
Theo Wargo/Getty ImagesNEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 13: Grimes attends The 2021 Met Gala Celebrating In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on September 13, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)
Gwen Stefani
Christopher Polk/Getty ImagesUNIVERSAL CITY, CA - NOVEMBER 30: No Doubt's Gwen Stefani performs at Gibson Amphitheatre on November 30, 2012 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Rebel Waltz)
Katy Perry
Cameron Spencer/Getty ImagesMELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 08: Katy Perry performs during a concert following the ICC Women's T20 Cricket World Cup Final between India and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 08, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Kelly Clarkson
Rich Fury/Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 27: Kelly Clarkson attends STX Films World Premiere of "UglyDolls" at Regal Cinemas L.A. Live on April 27, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)
Lady Gaga
John Phillips/Getty ImagesLONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 09: Lady Gaga attends the UK Premiere Of "House of Gucci" at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on November 09, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Universal Pictures )
Lizzo
Bryan Bedder/Getty ImagesMIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 04: Lizzo performs live from Miami Beach at the Platinum Studio for American Express UNSTAGED Final 2021 Performance at Miami Beach EDITION on December 04, 2021 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for American Express)
Lorde
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty ImagesNEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 17: Lorde performs onstage at the 2021 Guggenheim International Gala on November 17, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum)
Miley Cyrus
Jamie Squire/Getty ImagesINDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 03: Miley Cyrus performs a Tribute to Frontline Heroes during the 2021 NCAA Final Four at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images for NCAA)
Nicki Minaj
Leon Bennett/Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 24: Nicki Minaj performs onstage at the 2018 BET Awards at Microsoft Theater on June 24, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)
Pink
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty ImagesINGLEWOOD, CA - AUGUST 27: Pink attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
Rihanna
Simone Joyner/Getty ImagesLONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 19: Singer Rihanna performs live on stage as part of her 777 tour at The Forum on November 19, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Simone Joyner/Getty Images)
Shakira
Kimberly White/Getty ImagesCARACAS, VENEZUELA - MAY 11: Columbian singer Shakira performs at a concert during her Tour Of The Mongoose May 11, 2003 in Caracas, Venezuela. (Photo by Kimberly White/Getty Images)
SZA
Craig Barritt/Getty ImagesVIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA - APRIL 27: SZA performs onstage at SOMETHING IN THE WATER - Day 2 on April 27, 2019 in Virginia Beach City. (Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Something in the Water)
Taylor Swift
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty ImagesCLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 30: Taylor Swift performs onstage during the 36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on October 30, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame )
