Why Calvin Klein hopes you hate its racy new billboard
Filed under: Media
Are you absolutely out-of-your-mind furious about that new Calvin Klein billboard showing a cluster of half-dressed young folks in what appears to be the prelude to an orgy? A lot of people are, apparently. If you're one of them, here's the best thing you can do about it: Nothing.In case you haven't noticed by now, your outrage is exactly what the American fashion giant is counting on to sell its products. Every year or so, Calvin Klein manufactures a fresh "controversy" with a button-pressing, taste-defying ad campaign calculated to generate stories on the evening news without quite crossing the line into outright indecency of the sort that would provoke the authorities.
Last year, it was a commercial for Obsession perfume that featured actress Eva Mendes rolling around on a bed naked. TV networks refused to air the ad, allowing Calvin Klein to boast that it had been banned. A billboard featuring a naked Mendes was erected at Broadway and Lafayette -- exactly where the much-discussed "threesome" billboard now resides. A couple years earlier, it was a CK Jeans image of a woman nuzzling her gentleman friend's hindquarters that was bringing local traffic to a halt. And so on, stretching all the way back to a 15-year-old Brooke Shields coyly hinting she wasn't wearing underwear. That commercial doesn't seem quite so outré now, does it?
Coincidentally, the flap over Calvin Klein's new provocation comes just as another well-known piece of marketing from the same intersection -- DKNY's iconic billboard featuring New York City landmarks -- is getting painted over after 20 years. In-your-face sex may sell, but it will never have that kind of staying power.
To see all 10 of Sarah Gilbert's top 10 best and worst naked advertising campaigns, click here.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
6-15-2009 @ 3:01PM
BonSchwein@aol.com said...
Calvin Klein is showing what a media whore he is. He obviously has no cares about what todays parents are
up against. Therefore, I won't buy his crap.
Reply
6-15-2009 @ 10:39PM
SOhp101 said...
Sorry but Calvin Klein isn't marketing to people like you, so I don't think the company cares if you're boycotting because you probably don't buy their stuff in the first place.
Everyone who is openly offended by this ad has let Calvin Klein win because that was the sole purpose of the advertisement--get people to talk about it and get the prudes to complain. Guess what, that just makes the 'rebel' factor of Calvin Klein's clothes go up a few notches.
6-15-2009 @ 11:09PM
Simon Arch said...
That doesn't change the fact that he's just a troll.
6-15-2009 @ 3:08PM
MBS said...
Oh, I hadn't heard that CK merged with Abercrombie & Fitch.
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6-15-2009 @ 3:28PM
janice skorupa said...
A bit much. ..Calvin Klein should not have gone this far. Advertisers have been doing that lately- going overboard. Perhaps they think it's okay. But they need to realize that they have to ride the middle road in public places to allow all to feel comfortable. When you start making people uncomfortable, they are going to lash back. That is for all to see and if parents don't want their children to see, what are they supposed to ... not go where that advertisement is being displayed? If it was in select magazines then people can make a choice, but where it is located everyone is forced to view it and it is offensive to some.
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6-15-2009 @ 3:43PM
carmen said...
Calvin Klein is a gay and a whore. That's why I would never buy any of his products or let any of my family members either. Theyre's other products to buy instead of giving him our money. Loser.
Reply
6-15-2009 @ 11:08PM
Dan said...
Well Carmen...I dont like the billboard either but take your breeder money and shove it up your breeder ass.
6-19-2009 @ 4:55AM
Jim said...
I would NEVER give my money to a Christian business person if I ever have a choice in the matter. Only to have them take the money and use it against me, to take away my most basic rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Breeders are overpopulating the planet and poluting their minds with religious absurdities.
6-15-2009 @ 3:45PM
Ria said...
I'm sorry, although I am a healthy young woman, and hardly a prude, once you've seen a breast or a penis, you've seen them all. It doesn't matter who its attached too - I adore Viggo Mortensen but seriously one more movie with his jewels swinging and I'm going to scream; he's sexier with clothes on...so I wonder HMM? Wouldn't it be nice....
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6-15-2009 @ 4:01PM
K said...
Calvin is desperate. Must be real slow in his factories these days.
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6-15-2009 @ 4:11PM
IRitch said...
Typical media garbage. Designed to "tell us what we want". If I was inclined to buy this unnecessary, overpriced crap,(which I am not) this would certainly be the end of the idea. I it is time for these over payed pimps to consider jobs that serve a purpose.
Guess what Calvin, nothing comes between me and my hard-earned money.
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6-15-2009 @ 4:19PM
fivemillion said...
Wow if I had kids I would not want them looking at that crap.
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6-15-2009 @ 5:20PM
Doug said...
What a cool billboard. Young people hanging out. Sexy!
Reply
6-16-2009 @ 7:14AM
Shawn said...
I totally agree with you. We all need to move on and just accept that it happens. It's nice to know that companies still have a creative side.
For all those other people against growing... What about the tobacco company and the oil company...THEY ARE STEALING FROM YOU, in which this billboard isnt!!! Think about that for a second! You probably cant becasue there is no 'billboard' for that, huh?
6-15-2009 @ 6:02PM
mal said...
CALVIN KLEIN HAS A LAW NAMED AFTER HIM, IT WAS ENACTED WHEN HE DID 5 OR 6 HITS OF EXTACY AND ATTENDED A NY NICKS GAME, HE WAS SO OUT OF HIS MIND HE WENT UP TO LETREL SPREWELL AND STOPED THE GAME, AFTERWARDS LEDGISLATORS MADE IT A MISDEMENOR TO STOP A PROFESSIONAL GAME WHILE ITS BEING PLAYED......NICE JOB CALVIN!!!!!!
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6-15-2009 @ 6:45PM
Jeanne said...
Calvin, the fact that you want people to be outraged is what is the most disturbing. If you really think that that would sell jeans,
you are mistaken. You made a name for yourself.. Do you not want to keep it? Or do you want to shock? What is next? It would have to be far more outragesous. Guess we will wait and see what happens. For me... I will pass on Calvin Klein jeans.. I have owned them in the past..
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6-15-2009 @ 9:27PM
Betty Merry said...
I'll stop buying CK bras and undies after seeing this disgusting, degrading depiction of American youth! There's plenty of other brands to buy........Speak up America.
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6-15-2009 @ 7:32PM
Collette said...
The dollar is how any person demonstrates product support. For every vote cast, there is a marketer creating a running tally. When thought of in this way, it's easy to see how marketing decisions are made. Cast your vote carefully.
Reply
6-15-2009 @ 8:05PM
billy said...
oh stop bitching about this you pussys, its two people kissing, so what?
Reply
6-15-2009 @ 8:41PM
glenn said...
Hmm, kiddies, listen up. The world is changing and maybe not for the better.
Frigging is now an acceptable word on television. Dozens of UNMARRIED celebrity women are having children (bastards by definition) without marriage.
The courts are allowing MARRIAGE, not just civil unions between people of the same sex.
As far as I am concerned, Nothing comes between Brooke and her Calvins even with the media fury that caused.
And by the way, young women are photographed without any underwear and the pictures are shown in the media. Hmm,,,,,
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