Is the Calvin Klein Billboard Offensive?

Photo via bitchcakes flickr

C'mon New York, are we such prudes that we can't handle a little denim clad foursome? People are reportedly up in arms over the latest Calvin Klein billboard that the Daily News says "seems to show a teenage girl in a threesome—with suggestions of a foursome."

Located at Lafayette and Houston Streets, not too far away from the always risque American Apparel ads, the billboard has been called "borderline pornographic" by locals, who are also raising eyebrows at the youthfulness of the girl in the ad. And one tourist visiting from Texas said, "I think it's telling people it's okay to do that, and it's kind of gross." Sure, tourists may be shocked at the idea of four clothed jean-lovin' kids dry-humping, but have the rest of us really not come this far since 1981, when a 15-year old Brooke Shields posed spread eagle in a commercial declaring that nothing would come between her and her Calvins?

Meanwhile, on the business side, an Ad Critic for Adweek Media Magazine thinks the billboard is "a desperate act for Calvin Klein," but the company says the "intention was to create a very sexy campaign that speaks to our targeted demographic."

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By Jen Carlson in News on June 15, 2009 10:07 AM

Comments [rss]

kontrayau

Kids go by and and see it and say "that's cool mommy, I want to be like them"... Ok people, is it ok kids have to see pg rated thing in public places? Why responsible parents don't let kids watch rated pg movies or play rated pg games? Allow your kids see it but let other walk their kids without covering their eyes to such things.

freakqnc

It would upset me more would be a McDonald ad than this one! :)

Sorry.. I meant what would upset me more would be a McDonald ad than this one! :)

freakqnc

When will people understand that making a big deal out of something like this allows the brand being advertised to get even more exposure and at the same time gives a reputation of being ground-breaking to ad agency that made the poster?

You can bet your family jewels (and I am not talking about one's kids) that if this ad was posted on a billboard of a European city, pretty much everyone would ignore it or at most just smile about its moronic attempt to "shock" the bystander using the cliche of leveraging what some society considers border-line taboo.

The ad is not sexy, not artistic, not creative... really peole, it is not worth any attention, let's stop giving it so much importance. I agree that is someone finds it offensive (like family associations and the likes) they have the right to complain and try to have it taken down, but personlly i could not care less about it, it's just a stupid ad.

It would upset me more would be a McDonald ad than this one! :)

valeriob

I'm more offended by American Apparel ads on the internets. Every time one comes up it looks like I'm looking at porn at work with some skank with no shirt on and her ass cheeks hanging out... selling flip-flops.

rwordplay

Offensive? No I'm not in the least bit offended. In fact, I'm grateful. Calvin continues to push what's acceptable in the public sphere. What's more, I prefer this caricature of youth and its portrayal of gender and sexuality and drug-altered states of mind, to the ordinary advertisements. Calvin initiates an interesting dialog in a City (upper case intentional to stand for NYC) that has, in theory normalized all manner of behavior and relationships. What's more, Calvin is nothing if not consistent; again this is not an aberration, it is merely an evolution we've seen over the decades, since his "exploitation" of young Brooke Shields at the advent of his corporate advertising. So, I say, well done, Calvin, and, ever onward. In closing, I find the uninterrupted flow of traffic on Houston actually offensive and wish people would focus on what is troubling at street level.

gjtryon

Jaded teens in faded jeans: a fitting emblem of moribund America.

feelandtriple

am i the only one who sees all three dudes are the same dude? he's just having some fun with photoshop.

annoying, yes, offensive, not really.

dee Truth

do you think if it was 4 blacks in that ad,

it would have been taken down already?

you've done it again CK

Iv never bought anything CK and when I see that label on anyone,it instinctively tells me that person is a douche.

magicnick

Cum on! It's just a few kids having some fun. What's the big deal?

Wza

Calvin Klein's no friend of mine.

santijose

looks like the same guy in 3 different position. like a time lapse thing. during, before and after mode.

jt10000

Well, the American Family Association is against it, so regardless of how obnoxious it is, I've gotta support it.

GREGORYABUTLER

It's just PORNO!

Grow up!

siccer

I don't think it's offensive -- but it seems awfully dated/passe', as if CK is stuck in a time warp.

Billiamsburg

Right. Hasn't Calvie been doing these same adds since the early 90s? Zzzzzzzzzz.

Reflect

No elisabeth's gluten sensitive skin and petty right wing thoughts are not here.

NannyState

WTF is this? The View?

SeasTooFarToReach

Don't know where the outrage broke out, but I saw it last night on CBS news. I think someone at Calvin Klein's PR office just pulled a favor from some newscasters.

Now everyone is talking about it and looking at the ad. Major win for them in the buzz department.

It's not unusual for CK, really. I've seen guys wearing fine cotton tighty whities that look almost transparent!

I think this ad just needed another girl to balance it out.

ANGRYGOD11

What makes you think this ad is directed to girls?

In any case, how many CK ads like this have been towering over Houston Street for so many years now? It's not the worst, I think, but it's pretty much all a blur by now.

r1b2

Not sexy. A too-young gal and a few guys who may be homosexuals. The standard ad these days. Hardly sexy, just boring and a weak attempt to excite.