OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
SiriusXM podcaster Megyn Kelly has lashed out at Kim Kardashian over her association with a fashion brand that is taking fire for a highly controversial ad campaign featuring children. The high-end fashion brand Balenciaga provoked a tidal wave of criticism for ads conjuring up images of child pornography by featuring young children holding dolls outfitted with BDSM attire.
And according to reports, the ad campaign also featured known pedophiles.
“The Megyn Kelly Show” host said on Tuesday that Kardashian is to blame for refusing to fully distance herself from the brand that she has heavily promoted in the past, despite not really needing the money.
“She’s a disgusting, shameful billionaire because the money is worth more than her morals and the protection of these children to her,” Kelly said.
The former Fox News star then took aim at the Balenciaga photo shoot, alleging that the ad campaign promotes the “sexualization of children” and is “titillating to pedophiles.”
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In response to backlash against the company, Kardashian said she was “re-evaluating” her association but did not formally cut ties.
“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 said.
“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 added.
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.
— 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,” Kardasian noted.
“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,” she said.
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 New York Post provided some details about the photo shoot:
The shoot included images of two young girls holding stuffed animals dressed in bondage gear.
One photo shows a ginger-haired girl wearing a Balenciaga T-shirt while holding onto a white teddy bear.
The doll was dressed up in a vest with a padlocked choker around its neck.
Another image shows a brunette child brandishing a purple plush animal that was adorned with similar BDSM attire.
Others noted on Twitter they doubted that the company wasn’t aware of what took place in its campaign.
“No way this campaign was ‘not approved’. An instagram apology and a promise of investigation is simply not enough. This is sickening. This is child abuse. There is no reason why #Balenciaga should have even thought that this campaign was okay. Simply disgusting. #BalenciagaGate,” cigar maker Eloy Alvarez tweeted.
No way this campaign was “not approved”. An instagram apology and a promise of investigation is simply not enough. This is sickening. This is child abuse. There is no reason why #Balenciaga should have even thought that this campaign was okay. Simply disgusting. #BalenciagaGate pic.twitter.com/lJAWyQoU0r
— Eloy Alvarez (@realEloyAlvarez) November 23, 2022
“Balenciaga posted an ‘apology’ claiming the children posting with BDSM props was an ‘error’ They failed to address the known pedophiles featured in their ads or the books with disturbing, pornographic images of children Nobody makes this many ‘errors’ with the SAME THEME!” conservative author and Babylon Bee contributor Ashley St. Clair added.
Balenciaga posted an “apology” claiming the children posting with BDSM props was an “error”
They failed to address the known pedophiles featured in their ads or the books with disturbing, pornographic images of children
Nobody makes this many “errors” with the SAME THEME! pic.twitter.com/DGf1s9nMir
— Ashley St. Clair (@stclairashley) November 28, 2022
Earlier this month, Kelly celebrated MSNBC’s dismissal of now-former host Tiffany Cross, whose race-tinged rants and content were especially troublesome for many critics.
Kelly and her guest, fellow conservative broadcaster Dana Loesch, both honed in on Cross’s frequent anti-white diatribes, while Kelly described Cross as “the most racist person in all of television.”
“I have some good news. I have some good news,” Kelly told Loesch as she returned from a break. “Tiffany Cross, the most racist person in all of television and in particular on MSNBC, just got fired.”
“Poor Tiffany,” she added mockingly, recounting briefly some of Cross’s past racist speech. “So, joy, oh joy. Tiffany Cross is gone!”
Loesch noted in the full clip that she had to “really think hard and remember who” Cross is before adding that she gets why MSNBC would let her go.
“It’s kind of hard to sell ads on, you know, some Karen screaming about, you know, all of these grievances that she sees everywhere that don’t actually exist, and she doesn’t even have her facts straight on half of it all the time, or any of it all the time,” she said.
