In the eyes of many, Harry Styles and luxury fashion brand Gucci seem to be channeling their inner Balenciaga in a new ad that features a teddy bear among other things.
In the ad, Styles is wearing a t-shirt with a teddy bear on it while posing with what critics insist is a toddler bed. The message on his shirt reads, “I want more berries and that summer feelin.’”
“A performance piece starring #HarryStyles and the #GucciHAHAHA collection,” the official Gucci account tweeted while sharing photos of the ad.
A performance piece starring #HarryStyles and the #GucciHAHAHA collection. Discover the campaign https://t.co/6SWoX3NzMP @Harry_Styles pic.twitter.com/urKTJRB50m
— gucci (@gucci) December 12, 2022
The ad is fresh on the heels of the controversial Balenciaga ad featuring toddlers posing with teddy bears in bondage — for what it’s worth, Gucci and Balenciaga are owned by the same parent company, Kering Group.
Balenciaga came under serious fire for ads featuring young children with plush “BDSM-inspired” teddy bears and apologized profusely over what the brand characterized as a “wrong choice.”
“We would like to address the controversies surrounding our recent ad campaigns,” Balenciaga said in a statement. “We strongly condemn child abuse; it was never our intent to include it in our narrative.”
“The two separate ad campaigns in question reflect a series of grievous errors for which Balenciaga takes responsibility,” the company added.
How soon, if ever, an apology from Gucci can be expected remains to be seen… here’s a quick sampling of responses to the story from Twitter:
Teddy bear in front of toddler mattress? Doesn’t remind anyone of anything … Hollywood doesn’t get it https://t.co/A3gXeh99Cb
— Jessica (@Jburs) December 21, 2022
@gucci why are you using a toddler size mattress in this ad. Can someone explain the concept because it’s not clicking for me.
— Shana Sanders (@shanadigital) December 15, 2022
Balenciaga has entered the chat
— Derrick Torres (@DTwizzle17) December 19, 2022
That single white mattress is giving pedo vibes, and I think you should have better judgement after the Balenciaga meltdown
— Coffee Pancakes (@HarrieHedgehog) December 13, 2022
Some people will do anything for cash @Harry_Styles
— MacLeod (@Katrina97511324) December 18, 2022
@elonmusk please remove these groomers from your platform
— Daniel Johnson (@BTC_CORNAHOLIC) December 19, 2022
This screams pedo. Unless he has suddenly become a parent bad choice @gucci
— Aundria (@GodsDreamer2005) December 18, 2022
Why is there a child’s mattress in this photo? Hmm? Does that pink bear mean anything? Hmm?
— Daniel Johnson (@BTC_CORNAHOLIC) December 19, 2022
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Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
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