Calvin Klein accused of sexualising children

Several people protested to the department store’s branch in Cheltenham that the woman in the photo looks younger than 16.

Because it shows her pulling on a bra, they claim that the advert is ‘erotic’ and sexualises children.

Rachel Ashby said she was shoping with her 11-year-old daughter and her daughter’s friend on Saturday when she first saw what she called the ‘offensive and irresponsible’ photo.

‘When I asked the children how old they thought the model looked, they decided between the age of 12 and 14,’ Rachel said.

‘This is an advert for women’s lingerie, not children’s underwear.

‘While I realise it is likely she is probably of legal age to appear, the fact that she looks underage in terms of body shape and somewhat vulnerable facial expression, combined with the fact that she is wearing very little and is adopting a strangely provocative pose, means it could be deemed to sexualise children.’

Rachel said she had praised House of Fraser for its recent launch of a foundation that helps charities – including Action For Children – but the advert was ‘disappointing’.

A House of Fraser spokeswoman admitted that they had received a number of complaints.

‘House of Fraser acknowledges the small number of customer complaints around the Calvin Klein advertising in some of our stores,’ she said.

‘We can confirm that the images in question are being removed.’

Writer: Ashitha Nagesh for Metro.co.uk