Why is it ‘sexual’ when a woman strips down but a celebration when a man does?
This week, photos from FKA Twigs’ photoshoot with Calvin Klein were banned by UK regulators; the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).
The banning of the photos came after the ASA received two complaints which argued that the advertisement inappropriately sexualised her as a woman.
In a statement published by the regulator, it was determined that FKA Twigs’ images drew focus away from the clothing being advertised and presented her as a ‘stereotypical sexual object’.
“Ad (a) showed FKA Twigs modelling a denim shirt. FKA Twigs’ buttocks and breast were exposed, and her shirt was draped over one shoulder and drawn halfway across her body.
“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 Twig’s physical features rather than the clothing, to the extent that it presented her as a stereotypical sexual object.
“We therefore concluded ad (a) was irresponsible and likely to cause serious offence.”
ASA Statement
Following the removal of the ad featuring singer-songwriter, FKA Twigs, she posted a lengthy response which called into question previous campaigns which she felt were of a similar nature.
“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.”
FKA Twigs via Instagram @fkatwigs
The decision to remove FKA Twigs’ ad comes after Jeremy Allen White’s campaign, which included multiple images of him posing in just a pair of Calvin Klein underwear.
The images of the actor were widely celebrated on billboards across the globe, as well as being warmly received online by millions of social media users.
If you take just one glance at the Calvin Klein Instagram account and you will be met with at least five posts where the star bears as much skin as FKA Twigs’.
The only difference is that Jeremy is labelled as ‘iconic’ for his images.
Shouldn’t FKA Twigs be the only person to decide if her images present her as a ‘stereotypical sexual object’?
What makes the decision to ban the images all the more disappointing is that FKA Twigs’ collaboration with the brand comes after she underwent laparoscopic surgery in 2017 to remove six fibroid tumours from her uterus.
This ad was not just about the clothes; it was about a woman bearing her strength and standing strong as an example for other women who may have experienced the same.
The musician says these health struggles ‘knocked’ her ‘confidence as a woman’.
“I tried to be brave but it was excruciating at times and to be honest I started to doubt if my body would ever feel the same again,” FKA Twigs told TTYA London while appearing on her podcast, TTYA Talks.
Here she is, in the aftermath of her health battle, feeling more confident and strong than ever and the response has been to hide her body away.
When you consider this context, the ban is all the more upsetting and infuriating.
In a world where health stimgas, body image issues and disorders run rampant, a symbol of health reclamation, tenacity, and power shouldn’t be offensive; it should be celebrated in the same way a muscular man is.
Calvin Klein is known worldwide for their tasteful, but sexualised campaigns, which have featured the likes of Kendall Jenner, Alexa Demie, Justin Bieber, Jacob Elordi, and Michael B. Jordan – all stripped down to their underwear.
After all, underwear is a major selling point for the brand.
Its removal is the only thing that takes away the image of a “beautiful strong woman of colour whose incredible body has overcome more pain than you can imagine” and replaces it with one, as the ASA concluded, of “overall sexual overture”.
This is a disappointing, and a sadly somewhat unsurprising, narrative to start 2024 with, a time when all bodies should be celebrated.
