Calvin Klein’s suggestive upskirt photo is blasted on Instagram

A Calvin Klein post on Instagram is making people flash — with anger.

Yesterday, the clothing brand posted an upskirt photo of 22-year-old model Klara Kristen in her underwear with the caption “I flash in #mycalvins.”

Comments from the account’s 4.8 million followers poured in blasting the controversial ad for being a “fodder for pedophiles” since the picture makes the model appear underage.

Here’s the ad in question:

Take a peek: @karate_katia, photographed by @harleyweir for the Spring 2016 advertising campaign. #mycalvins

A photo posted by Calvin Klein (@calvinklein) on

“DISGUSTING!!!!!!!! Promoting paedophilia. Get this REVOTING photo depicting a young child’s panties OFF!!!,” a follower wrote on the post, which garnered 1,300 comments (but 43,000 likes). Another person added: “I think this might be the most disgusting and misogynistic advert I’ve ever come across. Those in charge of this should be utterly ashamed.”

Other comments echoed the sentiment. One wrote that the ad promotes “misogyny, disrespect and patriarchal pseudo-paedophillia,” with the author adding, “this brand can do better so there’s no excuse.” Calvin Klein didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

The ad is part of Calvin Klein’s bigger campaign, called “Erotica,” for its underwear featuring other female models including Kendall Jenner. In a different picture, Jenner is squeezing a juicy grapefruit, a double entendre for the obvious.

https://digiday.com/?p=177781

More in Marketing

What the rise of the niche and nano-creator means for influencer marketing

As the creator economy swells, niche creators stand out capturing user attention and advertiser dollars.

The header image features an illustration with a dollar bill that has the Snapchat logo in the center.

Ad revenue or subscriptions: What’s more viable to Snap’s success as a business?

While subscriptions are still a modest slice of Snap’s revenue pie, they’re giving the company’s top line a noticeable lift.

The pragmatist’s guide to esports in 2024

Last year, Digiday published a “cynic’s guide” to esports in 2023. This year, the industry’s outlook is decidedly more optimistic. However, many esports companies remain unprofitable, and industry leaders are still trying to find a path forward that is sustainable in the long term.