COMICSANDS
percolately
georgetakei
secondnexus
george's picks
Most Read
Comic Sands © 2019
Weird News
Bella Hadid Got Weirdly Intimate With Virtual 'Robot' Lil Miquela In Calvin Klein's New Campaign
19 May 2019
Tony Barson/FilmMagic/GettyImages
Calvin Klein left the internet in a tizzy after featuring Shawn Mendes hypnotizing users with those doe-like eyes and flaunting his finely chiseled physique.
Oh, and the iconic CK skivvies were coo too, bro.
<p>Now, the fashion house is arresting social media users with a bizzare campaign in which American runway star <a href="http://www.newnownext.com/bella-hadid-lil-miquela-calvin-klein/05/2019/" target="_blank">Bella Hadid</a> gets intimate with Lil Miquela. </p><p>Who? </p><p>You know, Lil Miquela, the a 19-year-old robot, that's who.</p><p>Lil Miquela, a virtual female, uploaded the sponsored ad on Instagram in which she locked lips with Hadid, who identifies as heterosexual.</p><p>In the video, an unidentified voice-over is heard, saying, "Life is opening doors. Creating new dreams that you never knew could exist."</p><p><div id="c7da91bc-8e44-492f-b7fd-c382c0e55bda"></div></p><p><strong>The robot captioned her post with: </strong><br></p><em></em><blockquote><em>"I am here. That is my truth."</em></blockquote><p><br></p><div id="11b12" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="XWZ4H71558285982"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style=" background:#FFF; border:0;
border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);
margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px);
width:calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding:8px;">
<div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50% 0; text-align:center;
width:100%;">
<div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC);
display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;">
</div></div><p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxh4AdrnTel/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif;
font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;
word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">*~ MIQUELA ~* on Instagram: “I am here. That is my truth.
#MYTRUTH #MYCALVINS”</a></p>
</div></blockquote></div><p><strong>The sapphic kiss left LGBTQ women disconcerted over the Hadid's sexual identity and wondered if the ad was a subtle outing of the 22-year-old model.</strong></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="fd781" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="0A25PN1558285982"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1129125186148732928" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">who is gonna tell Calvin Klein you're supposed to wait until June for your tone-deaf queer-bait ad campaigns!! lil… https://t.co/XrOpzEx4ec</div> — Madison Malone Kircher (@Madison Malone Kircher)<a href="https://twitter.com/4evrmalone/statuses/1129125186148732928">1558039397.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><strong>We should be able to choose who we love. </strong></p><p><strong>Yet, here we are short-circuiting over this unique pairing.<br></strong></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="d4646" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="IJNE5A1558285982"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1129687615261818880" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@4evrmalone 😕 it’s a creative ad. So if it was a real girl it would be ok? I’m confused</div> — JOSHUA CRAIG (@JOSHUA CRAIG)<a href="https://twitter.com/1ACTOR/statuses/1129687615261818880">1558173490.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><div id="57f96" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="GXU42W1558285982"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style=" background:#FFF; border:0;
border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);
margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px);
width:calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding:8px;">
<div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50% 0; text-align:center;
width:100%;">
<div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC);
display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;">
</div></div><p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxhji4UHnmr/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif;
font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;
word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">*~ MIQUELA ~* on Instagram: “No one else can define our own truths.
#MYTRUTH #MYCALVINS”</a></p>
</div></blockquote></div><p>Some perceived the ad campaign as going too far with one critic lamenting: </p><p><div data-conversation-spotlight=""></div></p><p><em>"<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2019/05/18/calvin-klein-apologizes-lgbt-community-bella-hadid-lil-miquela-kissing-ad/3718939002/" target="_blank">There are plenty of real LGBTQ Models that could have been used.</a>"</em></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="e158e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="H8JPYC1558285982"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1130119074795728898" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@thehill Robophobia</div> — Techni Myoko🎀 (@Techni Myoko🎀)<a href="https://twitter.com/NeoTechni/statuses/1130119074795728898">1558276358.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><strong>Others saw no issue with the unconventional love affair.<br></strong></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="413a3" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="FWNZBQ1558285982"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1129701688040931328" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@4evrmalone So you exclude homosexuals from your ads and you’re homophobic. You include homosexuals and you’re que… https://t.co/lC54TMwVQ8</div> — jimmyk81 (@jimmyk81)<a href="https://twitter.com/jimmyk811/statuses/1129701688040931328">1558176845.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="94aab" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="XYOTXW1558285982"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1129781195661828096" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@hills02 @CalvinKlein Technically speaking, kissing a robot is a pan-sexual act. No alphabet soup required. #anyexcuseforoutrage</div> — ThatGuy (@ThatGuy)<a href="https://twitter.com/dogdriver70/statuses/1129781195661828096">1558195802.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="e6b39" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="FD2P1W1558285983"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1129730186801549319" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@CalvinKlein It’s a clothing add! Enough, get over yourselves</div> — Mex180 (@Mex180)<a href="https://twitter.com/mex180/statuses/1129730186801549319">1558183640.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="56553" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="91Z57N1558285983"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1129909404529319936" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@hills02 @CalvinKlein You don't know if the robot in the ad identifies as Mrs, or Mr. Roboto.</div> — 🦖 (@🦖)<a href="https://twitter.com/0x746c/statuses/1129909404529319936">1558226369.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="c86bb" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ZIVSDJ1558285983"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1129761008145326089" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@USATODAY So then a real LGBTQ actor cannot play a hetero person? Is this where we're going people?</div> — Max (@Max)<a href="https://twitter.com/MADestlife/statuses/1129761008145326089">1558190988.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><strong>By Friday, Calvin Klein issued a statement offering their thoughts in response to the online backlash. </strong></p><blockquote><em>"The concept for our latest #MYCALVINS campaign is to promote freedom of expression for a wide range of identities, including a spectrum of gender and sexual identities." </em></blockquote><blockquote><em>"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."</em></blockquote><p><strong>The company acknowledged how Hadid's kiss with Lil Miquela was seen as "queer-baiting" and expressed regret, though that was not their intention.</strong><br></p><blockquote><em>"We understand and acknowledge how featuring someone who identifies as heterosexual in a same-sex kiss could be perceived as queer-baiting. As a company with a longstanding tradition of advocating for LGTBQ+ rights, it was certainly not our intention to misrepresent the LGTBQ+ community. We sincerely regret any offense we caused."</em></blockquote><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="c01a8" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8XG2H81558285983"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1129521041309614085" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Here at CALVIN KLEIN, we welcome all types of constructive feedback from our community. We see your comments and we… https://t.co/nL4NUYaO9Y</div> — CALVIN KLEIN (@CALVIN KLEIN)<a href="https://twitter.com/CalvinKlein/statuses/1129521041309614085">1558133776.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><strong>Not everyone was buying. <br></strong></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="c59bb" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="84DBJP1558285983"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1129740362271121408" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@CalvinKlein Are f’n kidding me . First any straight person can kiss a gay person . Don’t put me in a box . Bisexua… https://t.co/eBaGFwmFjW</div> — mike hunt (@mike hunt)<a href="https://twitter.com/mikehun78323855/statuses/1129740362271121408">1558186066.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="05ac9" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="NFKW391558285983"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1129608470242705411" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@CalvinKlein WTF?!?!?!? Seriously!!!!! No one in your company raised concerns about this?!?!?! NO ONE?!?!? Either y… https://t.co/NCWAle5ACD</div> — Glitterelf (@Glitterelf)<a href="https://twitter.com/glitterelf/statuses/1129608470242705411">1558154621.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><strong>But thanks to Calvin Klein, robots now have an ally.</strong></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="05cbc" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="S3RDKF1558285983"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1130119525742055425" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@hills02 @CalvinKlein Progress.... Robots 🙄</div> — Only 1 🇺🇸 for This Great Country (@Only 1 🇺🇸 for This Great Country)<a href="https://twitter.com/Tamiamitrail67/statuses/1130119525742055425">1558276466.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>Does it not compute?<br></p>
Keep reading...
Show less