Balenciaga fans vow to boycott brand after comparing creepy new teddy bear ads to ‘Satanic sacrifice’
BALENCIAGA fans have insisted they will never buy from the company again after adverts were released showing child models posing with bondage teddy bears.
Footage shows fans throwing trainers worth hundreds in the bin amid backlash over the controversial adverts, which have been compared to “Satanic sacrifice”.
The high-fashion brand has been slammed over a series of ads featuring kids holding bears with BDSM accessories.
The adverts, which went live last week, were meant to promote items in their gift range – including reusable coffee cups and dog harnesses.
Fans of the Spanish fashion giant have now vowed to boycott the brand and to get rid of clothing they have bought from the company.
YouTuber Blaire White tweeted: “I rarely boycott, but Balenciaga is cancelled for me.
“I’ve spent thousands of $ on them, but now I’ll be donating my items to the nearest homeless shelter.”
Another fan said: “I’ve spent 30k + at Balenciaga. Never again.”
A third commented: “The photoshoots are pretty much indicating towards a satanic child sacrifice practice.”
A clip shared on social media also shows another person chucking a pair of Balenciaga trainers in the bin before covering them in an orange sauce.
In one advert, a ginger-haired girl was seen wearing a branded t-shirt while holding a leather strap connected to a white soft toy.
As well as having spiky leather bracelets around the bear’s arms and legs, the soft toy contained a chain and padlock around its neck.
Another image shows a darker-haired child was shown wearing a blue outfit while clutching a purple plush animal.
Along with other dubious leather features, the teddy appeared to don a lacy black thong.
In the wake of the controversy, the fashion designers removed all their online content on Instagram before new images were posted last week.
Balenciaga has since apologised and said the bondage bears “should not have been featured with children”.
It said: “We sincerely apologise for any offense our holiday campaign may have caused
“We have immediately removed the campaign from all platforms.”
A post on its Instagram story added: “We apologise for displaying unsettling documents in our campaign. We take this matter very seriously.
“We strongly condemn abuse of children in any form. We stand for children safety and well-being.”