Wears and is ashamed. Kanye forced to hide his shoes from Balenciaga after a terrible scandal involving childhood photos
After his estranged wife Kim Kardashian refused to cut ties with Balenciaga following their BDSM child images controversy, Kanye West has made a statement by covering up their logo with his own.
The 45-year-old artist was seen out in Los Angeles on Sunday sporting a US flag jacket and pair of $1,100 Balenciaga rainboots with the branding covered by a sticker which read ‘YE24.’
This came after the father-of-four criticized Hollywood celebrities for not speaking out against the Spanish high-fashion label.
He told TMZ on Friday: ‘This just shows you all celebrities are controlled. You don’t see no celebrities talking about the Balenciaga situation.
‘All of these celebrities out here, don’t let them influence you in any way, because they’re controlled by the people who really influence the world,” he added. “They’re not serving God’
Ye has been busy as on Sunday evening he was seen at dinner with fellow ex of Kim Kardashian Ray J, 41, and right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulous at Giorgio Baldi in Pacific Palisades.
Speaking of Kanye’s 42-year-old ex Kim, she has come under fire for refusing to cut ties with the fashion house Balenciaga, despite a controversy that saw the company linked to a shoot that placed children alongside BDSM-themed items.
The SKIMS mogul finally broke her silence on Sunday night, denouncing the brand, with whom she frequently collaborates and has essentially become the face of, noting how she was ‘shaken’ and ‘disgusted’ to see the images.
Kardashian, who has been in business with the company for several years spoke out days after the company had already apologized for the scandal. She is often seen wearing Balenciaga to major events and has featured in several of the brand’s campaigns in the past.
But on social media, users appeared skeptical of Kardashian’s statement which took days to prepare, with many suggesting that it was not sincere and that she was waiting and hoping for things to blow over. Many said that only a complete cutting of ties with the Spanish brand would now be appropriate.
She issued it last night, saying: ‘I have been quiet for the past few days, not because I haven’t been shocked and outraged by the recent Balenciaga campaigns, but because I wanted an opportunity to speak to their team to understand for myself how this could have happened. Kardashian said in a statement on her Instagram page.
Kardashian continued: ‘As a mother of four, I have been shaken by those disturbing images. The safety of children must be held with the highest regard and anything against it should have no place in our society – period.’
She subsequently reissued the statement that saw some of the wording changed using stronger language adding: ‘any attempts to normalize child abuse of any kind should have no place in our society – period.’
However, on balance, Kardashian said that she is comfortable with how the company reacted to the scandal.
‘I appreciate Balenciaga’s removal of the campaigns and apology. In speaking with them, I believe they understand the seriousness of the issue and will take the necessary measures for this to never happen again.’
In an additional post, to both Instagram and Twitter, Kardashian said she was reconsidering her relationship with the fashion brand but had not yet many any firm decisions.
‘As for my future with Balenciaga, I am currently re-evaluating my relationship with the brand, basing it off their willingness to accept accountability for something that should have never happened to begin with — & the actions I am expecting to see them take to protect children.’
The sincerity of Kim’s response was further questioned when images emerged of Kardashian staging an impromptu fashion shoot in skimpy hotpants not long before she put out her statement.
‘I don’t believe that you’re being sincere at all. I think you were just hoping that it would blow over. There’s no way that they paid for an ad campaign, didn’t look it over thoroughly before they put it out there. Seems like it’s more about money for you,’ wrote one fan.
‘You can’t be that outraged if you’re going to continue to model for them I applaud u for speaking up but the fact that this even happened speaks volumes and so publicly at that. Shame on Balenciaga and anyone who still supports them. Things like this don’t deserve a second chance,’ added another.
‘Coming from a fan of you for many years this isn’t good enough. Now maybe you couldn’t of done anything then but you can now cut ties with Balenciaga at least! Ain’t no one forgetting this one there’s no excuse big enough to cover what everyone saw,’ echoed a third.
‘No. They were promoting child sexual abuse. How on EARTH can you say they ‘understand the severity’ and still work with them, especially as a mom?? This shows how sheltered you are. No concept of the impact this has on victims. Disgusting,’ responded one user.
Essentially the fashion face of the company, Kardashian is Balenciaga’s biggest supporter and the brand’s most famous model, appearing to walk on water in the fashion house’s fall 2022 campaign.
She was famously introduced to Balenciaga Creative Director Demna Gvasalia by Kanye with the couple’s daughters also sporting the brand, too, having recently been spotted carrying four-figure bags from the brand.
She acknowledged the role her ex-husband had played in the relationship in December 2021 as she spoke at the People’s Choice Awards where she accepted an award for fashion.
‘To Kanye, for really introducing me to the fashion world,’ she said. ‘I fell in love with fashion and I’m so inspired by so many people. But again, this is like a dream that I get to wake up and wear these amazing clothes and try new things and take a risk. I’m so humbled.’
Last month Kanye was dropped from a major business deal with Balenciaga as parent company Kering said the French fashion house would no longer be working on projects with him.
‘Balenciaga has no longer any relationship nor any plans for future projects related to this artist,’ Kering told WWD at the time.
