FKA twigs vs. Calvin Klein: Unveiling the Dichotomy in Empowerment and Censorship

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In her Instagram statement the singer said “I do not see the ‘stereotypical sexual object’ that they have labelled me. I see a beautiful strong woman of color whose incredible body has overcome more pain than you can imagine”

The British artist FKA twigs, known for her experimental electronic-pop music, has recently found herself at the center of controversy, with her Calvin Klein advertisement being banned in the U.K. Despite her diverse contributions to music, dance and modelling, Twigs has never strayed from her engagement in social and political discourse.

Throughout her career, FKA Twig’s has explored different facets of femininity; from empowering women in her 2019  ‘we are the womxn’ short film, to addressing sexual politics in her music video visuals, to questioning the patriarchy and how she has always been told that as a woman she should have to be looked after. Her impact on media and her dedication to challenging the preconceptions in the media about female sexuality, is not one that can be ignored. That is why, the recent banning of her advert for its allegedly damaging effects to women, is not only dumbfounding but also insulting.

The semi-nude advert was banned for objectifying women. In her Instagram statement the singer said “I do not see the ‘stereotypical sexual object’ that they have labelled me. I see a beautiful strong woman of color whose incredible body has overcome more pain than you can imagine. In light of reviewing other campaigns, past and current, of this nature, I can’t help but feel there are some double standards here.” The double standard was abhorrent, as the banning of her ad campaign came only weeks after Jeremy Allen White’s recently Calvin Klein advert. White received a lot of praise for his campaign, having it plastered on billboards and even brought on canvas by an interviewer at the golden globes, who questioned the actor’s castmates on how it made them feel.

It raises a crucial question: Why are artists like FKA twigs, who use their platforms to uplift women and push boundaries, labeled as ‘stereotypical sexual objects’ when they express empowerment in their skin? Conversely, male figures receive praise for their underwear campaigns. In an industry where female artists face media scrutiny and body micro-analysis, why is there hesitation when women reclaim their sexuality? Who determines when a woman is an object of affection versus just ‘an object’?

As we navigate these complexities, the FKA twigs and Calvin Klein debacle forces us to confront the pervasive double standards ingrained in the perception of female empowerment in the media and the larger cultural landscape.

It begs the question, why artists like FKA Twig’s who have notoriously used their platforms to uplift other women and to push the boundaries of female sexuality be labelled as ‘stereotypical sexual objects’ for feeling empowered in her skin; whereas male public figures like Jeremy Allen White are praised for their underwear campaign. In an industry where female artists are so sexualised by the media, where have their bodies micro analysed and criticised for simply going through changes, why do we draw the line once sexuality is taken into the hands of the person? Who decides when a woman is an object of someone’s affection or just simply ‘an object.’

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