Social Media Users Angered Over Harry Styles & Gucci’s “Sick” Pics of Child Exploitation on Instagram

Social Media Users Angered Over Harry Styles & Gucci’s “Sick” Pics of Child Exploitation on Instagram

Edited by: TJVNews.com

In terms of peddling child porn in ad campaigns by fashion houses, it appears that Balenciaga is not the only one in hot water these days. For those not in the know, several weeks ago, Balenciaga faced tough scrutiny for its controversial ad campaign in which children were pictured with BDSM-themed teddy bears, the New York Post reported. Another photo included papers from a Supreme Court case that upheld part of a federal child pornography law sitting under a handbag.

It has now been reported that the British singer and songwriter, Harry Styles, along with the Gucci fashion house are facing condemnation as the result of a T-shirt and photos from the “As It Was” singer’s HA HA HA Gucci ad campaign, the Post reported. Styles, 28, has worked with Gucci for years.

The report indicates that the photos were posted to Gucci’s Instagram account last week. The pictures show Styles holding what appears to be a child-size mattress while modeling a shirt with an angry-looking pink teddy bear on it. He is also standing in front of it.

“I want more berries and that summer feeling,” the shirt reads, borrowing a lyric from Styles’ Grammy-winning 2019 song “Watermelon Sugar,” as was reported by the Post.

“A performance piece starring Harry Styles and the Gucci HA HA HA collection. Discover the campaign at the link in bio,” Gucci captioned their new photos on Instagram.

“The House presents the Gucci HA HA HA campaign featuring British singer-songwriter and actor, Harry Styles,” Gucci added on its website, as was reported by the Post.

“Arising from the friendship between him and creative director Alessandro Michele, play is at the very heart of the collection, which uses menswear as a tool of the avant-garde. Captured by Mark Borthwick, the series of images sees Harry Styles showcase the ‘dream wardrobe’ defined by the eccentric use of romantic accents, whimsical prints, vintage details, and the expressive emotionality of the individual,” the Gucci site concludes, according to the Post report.

Twitter users have weighed in with their own critiques of Styles and the controversial photos. The Post listed several negative reactions. One person said that the photos are “not a good look” for Styles “as a grown man.”

Another Twitter used queried: “Why are all fashion brand ad makers sick creeps?”

“A child’s mattress and a teddy bear shirt, nothing to see here unless you’re a perv,” another declared.

“But honestly. @Harry_Styles what’s fashionable about anything here? Your shades? The twin sized mattress is weird AF. What does it imply? Why’s it there? A kids mattress and you’re wearing a pink teddy bear… why are actors so desperately clueless,” another wrote, as was reported by the Post.

The photos were taken in November and the Post reported that they were the concept of Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele, who has since left his position at the company.

Kering, a Paris-based international luxury goods group, owned by Francois-Henri Pinault, the husband of actress Salma Hayek, own both the Gucci and Balenciaga fashion houses.

Thus far, neither Gucci or Harry Styles has addressed the highly questionable photos on Instagram.

The Post also reported that earlier this month, Balenciaga’s creative director Demna addressed the BDSM ad scandal, which was widely condemned online with allegations of normalizing sexual fetishization and abuse of children.

“I want to personally apologize for the wrong artistic choice of concept for the gifting campaign with the kids and I take my responsibility,” the 41-year-old wrote, the Post reported. “It was inappropriate to have kids promote objects that had nothing to do with them.

“As much as I would sometimes like to provoke a thought through my work, I would NEVER have an intention to do that with such an awful subject as child abuse that I condemn. Period,” Demna continued, according to the Post report. “I need to learn from this, listen and engage with child protection organizations to know how I can contribute and help on this terrible subject.”