A Calvin Klein ad featuring a trans man posing in a sports bra has sparked outrage after it went viral online.
In a promotional video shared by the brand, which has long been known for their sultry and sexy ads featuring skin-tight topless models, Bappie Kortram can be seen in jeans and a sports bra.
Bappie, who hails from the Netherlands, is represented by a number of modeling agencies around the world, including Britain’s Zebedee Talent, who describe him as “a trans man who hasn’t had top surgery yet.”
The ad, initially shared as part of the Calvin Klein Pride 2022 campaign, went viral this week after being reposted on Twitter by dr. Anastasia Maria Loupis, who posted, “Calvin Klein wants to go out of business.”
Images from the same shoot are still used on Calvin Klein’s UK website.
Other users were stunned by the ad, with one writing, “Disgusting and I love Calvin Klein jeans. This is not a great advertisement for his clothes at all. Stop bowing to all these demands as it will only hurt your brand in the long run.”
A Calvin Klein ad featuring a trans man posing in a sports bra has sparked controversy after it went viral online
The brand has long been known for their sultry and sexy ads featuring skin-tight topless models (pictured, an earlier ad)
Another added, “The bra/beard thing has me confused. If he’s trying to be more feminine why would he keep the beard or is this trans woman with beards a thing?
“Is he just gay and wearing a bra because he’s overweight and thinks he’s cute?” So many questions. LOL.’
A third wrote: “Wow, this makes the clothes look ugly. I thought ads made things look attractive and aspirational?’
Another commented, “Good for them, they feel so good about themselves, but I don’t think most people find or want to see this physically attractive.” I certainly don’t!
“No thanks Calvin Klein, enjoy your time with Bud Light!”
Another wrote: “This can’t be legit. Come on. Wake me up from this nightmare.”
One added: ‘Gross. Very different from their haute couture advertisements.’
“I don’t understand why they want to promote ugly,” one commented, while another wrote, “That must appeal to 10 people.”
“In their attempt to placate a small minority, they alienate a large majority!” another wrote.
Others, however, defended the ad, commenting that it was the “first time they’ve ever felt like a Calvin Klein model.”
Bappie shared a post last year when the photos were first taken, revealing how happy he was to see the famous brand in the spotlight.
The snapshot went viral online after a Twitter user shared the snap on the social media platform
He wrote, “There are not enough words in any language to describe how much I love Jamilla and how much this shoot means to both of us.
“Being selected for Calvin Klein’s pride collection makes us proud in many ways
“1.We were both about to enter new chapters in our lives. Jamilla and her gastric sleeve and my upcoming top surgery. These are beautiful memories (and mammories! lol)
‘2. To show unashamed fat love, fat pride, fat cis bodies, fat trans bodies, fat joy.
‘3. That all transbodies are good bodies. The team at CK was kind enough to let me wear bralettes and a bodysuit.
“I think it’s important to show that masc bodies with breasts should be celebrated and that masculinity doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy feminine items.”
He continued, “I hope these photos inspire you all to be happier and more proud of your body, of your weirdness, of whatever you’re doing right now!”
He ended his post by thanking the brand.
Social media users were stunned by the ad, with some doubt as to whether it was really a promotional photo for Calvin Klein
The image went viral weeks after Bud Light did damage control due to a collaboration with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
Mulvaney sparked widespread outrage in April with a post of her sitting in a bathtub while sniffing out a custom Bud Light can with her face.
She posted under the hashtag #budlightpartner to coincide with the NCAA March Madness tournament, before joking that she didn’t know what sport she was promoting.
The disastrous marketing bid has resulted in sales of the US flagship beer dropping by as much as 20 percent every week.
And there have also been calls to boycott Adidas in a row for using a biological male model to promote a women’s swimsuit in its ‘Pride 2023’ collection.
The sportswear giant drew anger from fans who accused it of ‘mocking women’ when it unveiled an advertisement for the £50 swimsuit, which is part of its campaign to ‘uphold inclusive values’.
But disenfranchised fans continued to slam the “awakened” firm, with some customers encouraging in protest to “burn” their Adidas Gazelle trainers.