Kim Kardashian has made up her mind.
According to TMZ, the SKIMS mogul has reportedly turned down a 2023 Balenciaga offer and ditched outfits she was set to rock at upcoming events following their BDSM ad scandal.
Sources with firsthand knowledge of the situation informed the news outlet that the fashion house presented Kim Kardashian with an offer to do a 2023 Balenciaga campaign before the controversial child BDSM ads went viral.
However, once the ads went public, the reality star declined the gig, even before announcing she was ”shaken by the disturbing images” and “re-evaluating” her partnership with the brand.
Several sources also revealed that Kim had plans to rock Balenciaga outfits at events she is set to attend in the coming months, but she has scrapped them off her list and contacted other design houses for new options.
Kim Kardashian faced backlash for not immediately denouncing Balenciaga’s campaign or releasing a statement she was leaving the brand – but TMZ sources revealed she’s not locked in any contract with Balenciaga right now. She’s also not directly making any money from them.
Kim also responded to the controversy Sunday with a statement that said:
“I have been quiet for the past few days, not because I haven’t been disgusted 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,” the reality star tweeted.
“As a mother of four, I have been shaken by the disturbing images. The safety of children must be held with the highest regard, and any attempts to normalize child abuse of any kind should have no place in our society — period.”
She continued:
“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.”
I have been quiet for the past few days, not because I haven’t been disgusted 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.
— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) November 27, 2022
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.
— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) November 27, 2022
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.
— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) November 28, 2022
The outrage started earlier last month after the design house released an ad that featured children holding teddy bear bags accessorized with bondage gear and documents referencing a Supreme Court ruling that upheld a law that criminalizes child porn.
Since then, Balenciaga has apologized twice and pulled the outrageous campaign. They also released a statement saying, in part:
“We would like to address the controversies surrounding our recent ad campaigns. 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.”
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Reps for Kim Kardashian and Balenciaga have not responded to any request for comment yet. However, TMZ sources say Kim has no plans to work with the brand in the future.
