ASA caves in over 'flawed' Calvin Klein advertising ban

The ad watchdog has performed an embarrassing U-turn on its decision to censure a Calvin Klein ad featuring the British singer FKA twigs, after admitting the rationale for banning the ad was “substantially flawed”.

The outdoor execution featured the singer with a denim shirt partly covering her body, revealing part of her breast and the side of her buttocks, along with the caption “Calvins or nothing”.

In a ruling published in January, the Advertising Standards Authority branded the ad “irresponsible and likely to cause serious offence”, following two complaints that it inappropriately sexualised FKA twigs.

At the time, the ruling stated: “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.”

However, FKA twigs defended the ad and released a statement on Instagram, saying: “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…”

Now, the watchdog has said that after “careful thought” it had decided that “the image was not sexually explicit, that the ad presented FKA twigs as confident and in control and, therefore, that she had not been objectified”.

A spokesperson said the decision “took place in the context of the significant strength of public feeling, including views expressed by FKA twigs”, and was also driven by “concern that our rationale for banning the ad was substantially flawed”.

However, the ASA Council has maintained its decision that the image was “not suitable for display in an untargeted medium”, meaning the ban remains in place on that point, the statement said.

TOPICS:ad regulation ASA fashion outdoor media