As Kim Kardashian sparks FURY by posing in Balenciaga campaign one year after child BDSM scandal, FEMAIL lifts the lid on the MANY controversial brands she’s supported over the years

• Kim recently came under fire after posing for a new Balenciaga campaign
• The fashion brand was previously embroiled in a child BDSM scandal
• But the reality star, 42, has supported a slew of other controversial companies 

Being one of the biggest stars on the planet, Kim Kardashian is certainly no stranger to controversy.

The makeup mogul, 42, has been the center of scandal numerous times over the years – thanks to some highly problematic ad campaigns that she’s participated in and the divisive brands that she’s aligned herself with.

Most recently, she posed for Balenciaga, despite the clothing company receiving immense criticism one year prior for releasing a set of images that showed children posing alongside a slew of BDSM-related items.

Kim initially faced backlash for refusing to cut ties with the brand and praising the way it handled the scandal, despite her claiming to be ‘shaken’ and ‘disgusted’ by the images.

Kim Kardashian, 42, has been the center of scandal numerous times – thanks to some problematic ad campaigns she’s participated in and the disreputable brands she’s supported

Most recently, she posed for Balenciaga, despite the company receiving criticism one year prior for releasing a set of images that showed children posing with BDSM-related items

As Kim comes under fire for her involvement in the new Balenciaga campaign, FEMAIL rounded up all the other times she has been slammed for promoting scandalous companies

Now, she has made her loyalty clear by participating in its latest ad for Balenciaga’s upcoming Summer 2024 collection. 

And this isn’t the first time that she’s stuck with a brand despite it being embroiled in scandal. 

She’s been a longtime supporter of fashion house Dolce & Gabbana, despite the company being accused of racism and homophobia, which even once led to singer Elton John urging people to join him in boycotting it.

Kim also faced criticism in the past for promoting controversial products like appetite suppressants and meal replacements to her legion of followers – some of which had very little evidence supporting that they even work.

As the SKIMS founder subjects herself to fierce criticism over her involvement in the new Balenciaga campaign, FEMAIL went ahead and rounded up all the other times Kim has been slammed for promoting not-so-favorable products or companies.

Kim appeared in a new Balenciaga campaign – almost one year after the brand became embroiled in child BDSM scandal 

Back in November 2022, the fashion house came under fierce fire after it released an ad that showed kids posing alongside various BDSM-themed items 

Afterwards, the SKIMS founder, who had been in business with the company for several years, refused to cut ties with Balenciaga, but said she was ‘shaken’ and ‘disgusted’ by the images

Kim recently featured in a brand new Balenciaga ad – almost a year after the brand became embroiled in child BDSM scandal that rocked the fashion world.

She posed in a black latex dress and knee-high boots for the brand’s latest campaign.

Back in November 2022, the fashion house came under fierce fire after it released an ad that showed kids posing alongside various BDSM-themed items.

Afterwards, the SKIMS founder, who had been in business with the company for several years before that, refused to cut ties with Balenciaga, but said she was ‘shaken’ and ‘disgusted’ by the images.

‘I have been quiet for the past few days, not because I haven’t been shocked 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,’ she said in an Instagram post. 

She wrote: ‘As a mother, I have been shaken by those disturbing images. The safety of children must be held with the highest regard’

At the time, she said she was reconsidering her relationship with the fashion brand but had not yet many any firm decisions 

‘As a mother-of-four, I have been shaken by those disturbing images. The safety of children must be held with the highest regard and anything against it should have no place in our society – period.’ 

However, Kim said that she was comfortable with how the company reacted to the scandal, adding, ‘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.’

At the time, she said she was reconsidering her relationship with the fashion brand but had not yet many any firm decisions. 

‘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 – and the actions I am expecting to see them take to protect children.’ 

One month later, during an appearance on the Angie Martinez IRL Podcast, she expressed frustration over the public’s reaction to her statement.

She said ‘people got mad’ that she didn’t call for the brand to be cancelled or post ‘f**k you, Balenciaga.’

She added that she was ‘not in this campaign’ and felt that she ‘completely denounced’ child porn in her statement.

Kim was slammed by the FDA for ‘misleading’ her followers after she promoted a morning sickness pill without sharing its potential side effects

In 2015, Kim promoted a drug dedicated to helping alleviate morning sickness on Instagram, which the FDA banded as ‘misleading’ since she didn’t include potential side effects

Back in 2015, when Kim was pregnant with son Saint, she promoted a prescription drug dedicated to helping alleviate morning sickness on her Instagram.

And it resulted in her receiving a firestorm of criticism from her followers – especially after the FDA branded her post as ‘misleading.’

She shared a photo of herself holding the a bottle of Diclegis – a reformulated version of a pill that was pulled from shelves in the 1980s after widespread fears that it may have caused birth defects emerged – claiming that she had used it and that she was ‘so excited and happy with the results.’

While the medicine, made by Duchesnay, Inc., has since been proven safe, the government was quick to slam the reality star for plugging the pill without warning her millions of fans about the potential side affects, calling it a ‘serious and repeated violation.’

‘OMG. Have you heard about this? As you guys know, my morning sickness has been pretty bad,’ Kim gushed in her post.

‘I tried changing things about my lifestyle, like my diet, but nothing helped so I talked to my doctor.

‘He prescribed me Diclegis and I felt a lot better. Most importantly, it’s been studied and there was no increased risk to the baby.

She took down the post amid the backlash, and re-shared it with a new caption that included potential dangers. She then promoted the brand once again in April 2017 (seen)

A team of medical experts published a new analysis highlighting evidence that showed the pill could actually be ineffective that same year, but she posted another ad for it in July 2017 (seen)

‘I’m so excited and happy with my results that I’m partnering with [the company] to raise awareness about treating morning sickness. Be safe and be sure to ask your doctor about the pill.’

The Food and Drug Administration uploaded a response to her ad on its website soon after, pointing out that it had a ‘misleading omission of risk information.’

She also uploaded a plug for another drug created to combat morning sickness, called Bonjesta, in June 2018, but deleted that one an hour later

Kim took down the post amid the backlash, and re-shared it with a new caption.

‘I guess you saw the attention my last #morningsickness post received. The FDA has told Duchesnay, Inc., that my last post about Diclegis was incomplete because it did not include any risk information or important limitations of use for Diclegis,’ she said.

‘A link to this information accompanied the post, but this didn’t meet FDA requirements. So, I’m re-posting and sharing this important information about Diclegis.’

To make matters worse, two years later, a team of medical experts published a new analysis highlighting evidence that showed the pill could actually be ineffective, and concluded that it was a waste of money. 

Even so, Kim promoted the brand once again in April 2017, and then again in July 2017. 

She also uploaded a plug for another drug created to combat morning sickness, called Bonjesta, in June 2018, but deleted that one an hour later.

Jameela Jamila called Kim a ‘terrible and toxic influence on young girls’ for gushing over diet products online

Kim has been slammed numerous times over the years for promoting diet products on her Instagram – including meal replacement shakes, detox teas, and appetite suppressant lollipops

In 2019, she gushed over Flat Tummy Co shakes (seen) – but Instagram users branded her as ‘disgusting’ and blasted her for ‘not doing research’ on the products that she promotes

Other members of the Kardashian family have also promoted the brand, including Khloe Kardashian (left), Kourtney Kardashian (center), Kylie Jenner, and Kris Jenner (right)

Kim has been slammed numerous times over the years for promoting a series of diet products on her Instagram – including meal replacement shakes, detox teas, and appetite suppressant lollipops.

‘You guys all know I love @FlatTummyCo shakes,’ she wrote in an Instagram post in January 2019.

‘I’ve just restarted them (it’s day two today) and I’m already feeling so good. We had a huge Christmas this year and between that, New Year’s, and everything in between, I felt like it was impossible to fit in my regular work outs and eat healthy.

‘But this program is giving me a kick in the right direction that I need. These meal replacement shakes are so good and they’re helping me get my tummy back to flat.’

Flat Tummy Co shakes are described as a ‘weight loss and appetite control’ tool that’s ‘better than diet and exercise alone’ on its website.

‘Helps curb cravings, feel full for longer, and fuel your muscles,’ reads a description.

In the comment section of her post, Instagram users branded Kim as ‘disgusting’ and blasted her for ‘not doing research’ on the products that she promotes.

One person added, ‘Your flat stomach had nothing to do with that shake. Just surgery and workouts.

‘There are also an audience of young girls who are at the age when they are very self conscious following you and seeing this.’

Someone else said: ‘I’m sure you have enough money to not have to live off ads… Do you really need more money? Especially to promote such a lie?’

‘Stop selling this garbage to us. Celebrate the fact that you work out and eat well,’ another user urged. 

Just weeks before, Jameela launched a movement in response to celebrities plugging weight loss products and the general pressure on women in society to look a certain way, called I Weigh.

Just weeks before, actress Jameela Jamil launched a movement in response to celebrities plugging weight loss products 

And after Kim’s post, she called the reality star a ‘terrible and toxic influence on young girls’ in a scathing tweet. She’s seen in a promotion for the campaign

To promote the campaign, she shared a video in which she pretended to drink a weight loss shake and then posed while sitting on the toilet. 

And after Kim’s post, she re-shared the clip, adding, ‘I see the diarrhea powder pushers are back out in full force pouting next to their laxative-shakes…

‘I’m gonna roll this baby back out so we can all grasp just how gross they are and what they’re doing is.’

She also called Kim a ‘terrible and toxic influence on young girls’ in a scathing tweet.

When asked about Jameela’s reaction by the New York Times, Kim seemed to brush it off, explaining that product endorsements were great opportunities for her and her family financially.

‘If there is work that is really easy that doesn’t take away from our kids, that’s like a huge priority, if someone was faced with the same job opportunities, I think they would maybe consider,’ Kim told the newspaper.

‘You’re going to get backlash for almost everything so as long as you like it or believe in it or it’s worth it financially, whatever your decision may be, as long as you’re OK with that.’

In 2018, Kim also promoted Flat Tummy Co’s ‘appetite suppressant lollipops.’ She shared a snap of her eating one, and wrote, ‘They’re literally unreal.’

People were quick to point out that the stuff in the lollipop had scant evidence supporting their efficiency as a weight loss aid.

At the time, there was only one published study on its active ingredient, satiereal, which was performed in 2010 by a French researcher at a low-profile pharmaceutical company on the outskirts of Toulouse. 

Other members of the Kardashian family have also gushed over various weight loss products over the years, including Khloe Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, and Kris Jenner.

Many weren’t pleased when Kim released her own energy drink despite never showing any interest in the industry

Back in July, Kim announced that she was partnering with the wellness brand Alani Nu to launch her own energy drink, called Kimmade, and the news was met with fierce criticism

Some people slammed her for creating an energy drink despite never showing any interest in the industry in the past. Others questioned if Kim had even tried the drink

Back in July, Kim announced that she was partnering with wellness brand Alani Nu to launch her own energy drink, called Kimmade, and almost immediately, the news was met with fierce criticism.

Some people slammed her for creating an energy drink despite never showing any interest in the industry in the past. 

‘What won’t she try to sell?’ asked one angry Instagram follower. Another said, ‘More corporate prostitution.’

Others described the collab as ‘random’ and questioned if Kim had even tried the drink before putting her name on it. 

Some people were also not pleased with the amount of caffeine in the drink. 

It has 200mg of caffeine in a 12 ounce can, while Red Bulls only have 111mg in a 12 ounce can and Monster energy drinks only have 86mg in an eight ounce can.

Kim is a longtime supporter of Dolce & Gabbana despite accusations of racism with the creators even slamming same-sex couples who have children 

Kim has been a longtime supporter of Dolce & Gabbana – despite it being accused of racism and homophobia in the past. She’s seen with designers Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce

A campaign released by the brand in 2018 caused an uproar after it showed Chinese woman struggling to eat Italian food with chopsticks while a male narrator makes crude innuendos

Kim has been a longtime supporter of the brand Dolce & Gabbana, posing in numerous ads for the clothing company and attending its fashion shows multiple times over the years – despite it being accused of racism and homophobia in the past. 

It was branded as ‘offensive’ for promoting ‘false stereotypes,’ but that hasn’t stopped Kim from wearing clothes from the brand. She’s seen at the Dolce & Gabbana Store in February

Most notably, a campaign released by the brand in 2018 caused an uproar after it showed Chinese woman struggling to eat Italian food with chopsticks while a male narrator makes crude innuendos.

At the time, popular Instagram account Diet Prada branded the ad as ‘offensive’ and said it promoted ‘false stereotypes.’

‘Pandering at it’s finest, but taken up a notch by painting their target demographic as a tired and false stereotype of a people lacking refinement/culture to understand how to eat foreign foods and an over-the-top embellishment of cliché ambient music, comical pronunciations of foreign names/words, and Chinese subtitles (English added by us), which begs the question – who is this video actually for?’ they wrote.

‘It attempts to target China, but instead mocks them with a parodied vision of what modern China is not… a gag for amusement.’

In addition, Elton once called for a boycott of the 33-year-old fashion brand after the heads of the label, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, slammed same-sex couples having children.

Dolce said that children need ‘a mother and a father’ and called the process ‘synthetic,’ adding, ‘I’m not convinced with what I call chemical children, a rented uterus, semen selected from a catalogue.’

‘How dare you refer to my beautiful children as synthetic?’ Elton scathed at the time.

Elton John once called for a boycott of the brand after the heads of the label, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana (seen with Kim this year), slammed same-sex couples having children

‘And shame on you for wagging your judgmental little fingers at IVF – a miracle that has allowed legions of loving people, both straight and gay, to fulfill their dream of having children.

‘Your archaic thinking is out of step with the times, just like your fashions. I shall never wear Dolce and Gabbana ever again. #BoycottDolceGabbana.’

In addition, Gabbana once called Selena Gomez ‘ugly’ in an Instagram comment.

Despite all the scandal surrounding the brand and its creators, Kim is very open about being a fan.

She’s worn clothing by the company many times, and even as recently as July, she was pictured hanging out with the two designers at a Dolce & Gabbana event in Puglia, Italy. 

Some people felt it was insensitive and ‘disrespectful’ when Kim transformed herself into Virgin Mary while promoting her own line of emojis

Some people felt it was insensitive when Kim transformed herself into Virgin Mary while promoting her Kimojis in 2017

At the time, she had released a set of emojis that were themed like her, but many found it to be ‘disrespectful’ when she made one that made her look like the mother of Jesus

Some people felt it was insensitive when Kim transformed herself into Virgin Mary while promoting her Kimojis in 2017.

At the time, she had released a set of emojis that were themed like her, but many found it to be ‘disrespectful of the Catholic faith, God, and the Virgin Mary’ when she made one that made her look like the mother of Jesus.

‘Your family is so disrespectful and will do anything for attention. This has gone too far, take it down,’ one person wrote in a comment when she shared a snap of the emoji.

‘So rude,’ someone else wrote. A third agreed, ‘Show some respect for religion Kim.’

‘There isn’t anything virgin about you lol,’ read a fourth comment. ‘Disrespectful af.’

Kim was accused of doing blackface in an ad for her makeup brand, KKW Beauty

Kim was accused of using blackface in a promo image for her KKW cosmetic line back in 2017

Kim was accused of using blackface in a promo image for her KKW cosmetic line back in 2017.

At the time, she posed in an ad for her brand’s beauty contour stick, and many were quick to noticed that her skin looked a lot darker than it normally does.

‘Black women get told to lighten meanwhile Kim spends her entire career in perpetual blackface and is lauded for her beauty,’ one Twitter user scathed.

‘She’s never looked this dark in her life,’ someone else said.

‘That’s def black face. She is no where near that dark,’ another agreed.

A fourth tweet read, ‘How did a team of PR people all look at the photo of Kim in blackface and tell her to post it?’ 

Kim released a weight trainer through her shapewear line SKIMS – despite health professionals issuing warnings

Kim faced fury again in 2019, when she released a waist trainer through her shapewear line SKIMS – despite a widespread criticism against the corsets for a number of health reasons

Doctors have warned against the trend, claiming that they could diminish lung capacity and alter the position of the internal organs

Kylie, Kourtney, and Khloe are all also fans of weight trainers and have shared pictures of themselves using them on their social media accounts despite the dangers 

Kim faced fury again in 2019, when she released a waist trainer through her shapewear line SKIMS – despite widespread criticism against the corsets for a number of health reasons.

‘A waist-trainer is a gift that I used to give to all of my friends right after they had a baby,’ she gushed in the clip shared to her Instagram while promoting it. 

Waist training is when you wear tighter and tighter undergarments to cinch in your middle permanently.

But doctors have warned against the trend, revealing that restricting the waist can take its toll on many aspects of the body. 

They have said that it can diminish lung capacity and produce dyspnea, or shortness of breath, push the ribs in and up, altering the position of the internal organs, as well as push the liver in and down, elongating it and squeezing it against the ribs.

It can also lead to digestive problems since it constricts the stomach and intestines, professionals have said.

Kylie, Kourtney, and Khloe are all also fans of weight trainers and have shared pictures of themselves using them on their social media accounts despite the dangers. 

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