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    The Most Controversial Calvin Klein Ads

    Too sexy and too creepy, many of the brands ads were banned.

    Sep 07, 2013
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    Complex Original

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    Image via Complex Original

    Google "Calvin Klein ads" and you're likely to see some of the most provocative campaigns around. Many were considered controversial, be it billboards, print ads, or commercials. In fact, in its 45 years, the brand has been criticized for promoting gang rape, violence, child pornography, and drug use. The ads have also been targeted by the American Family Assocation, the U.S. Department of Justice, and even former president, Bill Clinton. And many have been pulled from magazines and off the air. Interestingly enough, though, as controversial as they were the images hardly affected sales. Guess sex really does sell?

    We've compiled a list of some of the images and commercials that have received the most backlash. From Kate Moss and Mark Wahlberg's 1992 campaign to a creepy video that resembles child porno, here are The Most Controversial Calvin Klein Ads. 

    Brooke Shields

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    When: 1980

    In this 1980 Calvin Klein commercial, then-15-year-old Brooke Shields models the brand's jeans and says, "Do you know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing." A short line but one that would become legendary—and controversial. Shields, though, who played a prostitute in the film Pretty Baby at the age of 12, told the New York Post that compared to what she's done before "this was like being in winter gear." 

    Kate Moss and Mark Wahlberg

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    When: 1992

    These Calvin Klein ads may have elevated the fame of both Kate Moss and Mark Wahlberg, but they also caused quite the stir, perhaps more regarding Moss than Wahlberg. Moss was only 17 here—and here is her posing topless, straddling the actor. 

    Kate Moss

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    When: 1993

    Following her campaign with Mark Wahlberg, Kate Moss appeared in a commercial and print ads for the brand's perfume, Obsession. Some felt both the photos and the commercial were reflective of the "Heroin Chic" movement that was taking place at the time, and thus glamorized drug use. In fact, even former president Bill Clinton condemned other CK ads from the same decade.

    child pornography

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    When: 1995

    This 1995 ad campaign shot by Steven Meisel was one of the most controversial in the brand's history. The ad, which featured models in what seemed like a wood-paneled basement, received tons of backlash. Parent groups, child welfare authorities, leads of the Catholic League, and the American Family Association felt that the images looked like child porn. The Justice Department was even forced to investigate into it. The investigation was eventually dropped, but only when Calvin Klein was able to prove that all the models were adults. And even then, the brand still pulled the ads. 

    The pictures are provocative, for sure. But the commercial was even creepier. 


    kids underwear ad

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    When: 1999

    CK was criticized for this 1999 ad for kids underwear. It was believed that the black and white images of the young boys and girls were borderline child pornography. The president of the the American Family Association said the pictures were "nothing more than pornography." "Whether you like it or not you have pedophiles in this society. Anything that could get them excited is detrimental, irresponsible and reckless," he said. 

    Eva Mendes

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    When: 2008

    In 2008, Eva Mendes appeared in the commercial for Calvin Klein's perfume, Secret Obsession. She rolled around the bed, topless, and it was deemed too provocative. So few may have actually seen the TV ad because it was banned by U.S. networks. Mendes said she loved the fact that it was banned. "That means the ads are totally Calvin, totally provocative and a little controversial."

    All we can show you is a still, but feel free to head here to check it out. 

    group ad banned

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    When: 2009

    Photographer Steven Meisel has shot some of Calvin Klein's most iconic ad campaigns, including the controversial 1995 ad that some thought was child pornography. In 2009, Meisel was on set for another provocative ad, one that would also be banned from the U.S. 

    foursome

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    When: 2010

    This one's pretty self-explanatory. But in case you need some more explaining: The brand was under hot water for this 50-foot -tall billboard in New York City's SoHo neighborhood because some believed it suggested foursome sex. In fact, some were so outraged that they said they'd boycott the company. The American Family Association went so far as launching an appeal on its websites and sending over 15,000 email complaints to Calvin Klein. 

    violence

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    When: 2010

    In 2010, Lara Stone starred in a risqué Calvin Klein Jeans ad campaign that was eventually pulled from from billboards in Australia. The Advertising Standards Burea found the images to be "suggestive of violence and rape." The ads also received backlash from sexual assault workers and womens' groups. 

    f-bomb

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    When: 2011

    Some of you might recognize this ad. It was plastered on a billboard on East Houston Street and Lafayette Street two years ago. At a quick glance, it seems like Lara Stone is just in her Calvin Klein underwear, which at this point is nothing new for the company. But take a closer look and you'll see that it subliminally spells out "FUCK." Clever?

    Calvin KleinAd

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