Watchdog reverses ruling that Calvin Klein poster ‘objectified’ FKA twigs

The advertising watchdog has reversed its ruling that a Calvin Klein poster presented British musician FKA twigs as a “stereotypical sexual object”.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said it had decided to revisit its original decision in January that the poster was likely to cause serious harm or offence by objectifying FKA twigs “out of concern that our rationale for banning the ad was substantially flawed”.

The poster featured the artist wearing a denim shirt that was drawn halfway around her body, leaving the side of her buttocks and half of one breast exposed, with text reading: “Calvins or nothing.”

The ASA received two complaints that the images were “overly sexualised”, offensive and irresponsible because they objectified women and were inappropriately displayed.

Following the ruling, FKA twigs, whose real name is Tahliah Debrett Barnett, challenged the complaints in an Instagram post and thanked Calvin Klein for giving her the “space to express myself exactly how I wanted to”.

Alongside a picture of the poster, she wrote: “I do not see the ‘stereotypical sexual object’ that they have labelled me.

“I see a beautiful strong woman of colour whose incredible body has overcome more pain than you can imagine.”

Calvin Klein also defended the ad, describing FKA twigs as a “confident and empowered woman” who had collaborated with the brand to produce the image and approved it before publication.