Calvin Klein Apologizes For Queer-Baiting Ad

Bella Hadid (L) and Lil Miquela (R)

A new ad spot by Calvin Klein has resulted in a backlash, forcing the fashion brand to issue an apology to the LGBTQ community.

The video ad featured model Bella Hadid kissing robot model Lil Miquela. Miquela is a CGI with more than one million followers on Instagram.

Some called the ad queer-baiting, using a same-sex kiss to promote the brand.

Calvin Klein issued this statement:

“The concept of our latest #MYCALVINS campaign is to promote freedom of expression for a wide range of identities, including a spectrum of gender and sexual identities. This specific campaign was created to challenge conventional norms and stereotypes in advertising. In this particular video, we explored the blurred lines between reality and imagination

“We understand and acknowledge how featuring someone who identifies as heterosexual in a same-sex kiss could be perceived a queerbaiting. As a company with a longstanding tradition of advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, it was certainly not our intention to misrepresent the LGTBQ+ community. We sincerely regret any offense we caused.”

Moonlight Stars Take It Off For New Calvin Klein Ad Campaign

Trevante Rhodes

The male stars of newly-minted Academy Award-winning "Best Picture" Moonlight are taking part in a new ad campaign for Calvin Klein underwear.

Check out "Best Supporting Actor" winner Mahershala Ali (below) who's celebrating not only his big win last night but the birth of his daughter.

And Trevante Rhodes (above) has a full schedule with two big action films on his plate: Horse Soldiers and a reboot of Predator.

Younger cast members Alex Hibbert and Ashton Sanders also take part in the campaign.

Mahershala Ali

Commercial: Calvin Klein Jeans Gets All Sexty

One of five images in the new Calvin Klein Jeans campaign

In a departure from recent celebrity driven ad campaigns, Calvin Klein Jeans is turning to a social media/sexting environment for it's latest approach to jeans sales clearly targeting the millennials.

The initial commercial features all kinds of connections, including gay and straight couples (and truples) and more.

From WWD:

“Hahah a light threesome never hurt anyone ☺ ☺ ☺” reads the corresponding text message box alongside one of five Calvin Klein Jeans campaign images, a gritty black-and-white photo of two women lounging beside a shirtless man, made to look like it was shot moments before engaging in the suggested act. Another image depicts a woman in an open relationship that is texting with a potential hookup, assuring him that her boyfriend is “cool” with her doing whatever she wants (it’s unclear which paramour she’s pictured with).

“Our past campaigns have been more image-driven and this one was about starting a conversation through provocation,” Melisa Goldie, Calvin Klein Inc. chief marketing officer, told WWD about the next phase of #mycalvins campaign that hits today. The inaugural #mycalvins underwear campaign hit in February 2014 and expanded to include denim in October.

Check out the gay couple from the spot below, followed by the full one minute commercial.

Looking? Raw texts, real stories. Introducing the Fall 2015 Calvin Klein Jeans ad campaign. Meet us. #mycalvins

A video posted by Calvin Klein (@calvinklein) on Jul 29, 2015 at 10:56am PDT

(h/t JMG)

GIF Of The Day: Justin Bieber

Much has been made of the photoshopping of the Biebs for his new Calvin Klein underwear campaign.

This GIF of the "before" and "after" pics of little Justin made me laugh.

Matthew Terry, Super Bowl Calvin Klein model, on Andy Cohen show

Kind of fascinating and cringe worthy at the same time.

The 21 year old model Matthew Terry from the Calvin Klein underwear Super Bowl ad makes an appearance on Andy Cohen's late night Bravo show.

The point seems to be to see Matthew take his shirt off, but Jenny McCarthy looks a bit overboard about the whole thing. Plus, there's an awkward "Gun Oil" mention by McCarthy.

But Matthew is a good sport about it all. And let's be honest, when you've got a Porsche you don't keep it in the garage...

Here's the Super Bowl ad that brought Matthew to the world's attention:

Former Calvin Klein lover says he was forced to take lie detector test

Page Six has the sordid details:

In February 2011, Klein threw a lavish 21st birthday party for Gruber at downtown restaurant Indochine, summoning A-listers Alec Baldwin, Anna Wintour and Donna Karan. But soon after, Gruber claims, Klein's jealousy started to sour the affair.

That spring, the designer left town, and Gruber invited a male friend to sleep over at Klein's Perry Street residence for, he says, entirely innocent reasons. When Klein returned, the housekeeper tattled about his lover's overnight guest. Despite Gruber's denials, the designer assumed the worst-and that's when things got ugly, he says.

"[Calvin] picked me up in his car, drove me down to the Holiday Inn in Chelsea, and we went downstairs in the basement of the hotel," he says, furrowing his brow.

According to Gruber, another man was waiting there with a lie detector. He said he was an ex-detective, and presented a business card bearing the name "Dr. Love." Gruber, indignant that Klein was accusing him of cheating, says he agreed to be hooked up to the machine and interrogated for about two hours.

"He made me take a lie-detector test," Gruber says in disbelief. "I passed it. And then, you know, things were much better. But I mean, what kind of partner would make you take a lie detector test? I was like, 'Did you ever cheat on me, Calvin?' I never cheated on him."

If that wasn't eye-roll inducing enough, Gruber goes on to state that it's impossible for bystanders not to fall for him.

"I don't know why, but there's, like, something about me that attracts everyone. I have a nickname called Romeo. I get every girl, and even guys. Something about me draws them all in."

SRSLY?  Did he really say that?  I just can't wrap my head around ego like that.

Gruber also insists in the Page Six interview that he's straight and didn't date Calvin Klein for the money or lifestyle. His book, tentatively titled Obsession: My Life With Calvin Klein, will be released in January.

Behind the Scenes at Calvin Klein Underwear Shoot

From Out.com - Happy Tuesday!