New Yorker magazine is slammed online after picture of nude photographer holding naked baby in his lap shared by the iconic magazine in 2019 resurfaces
- People on Twitter are attacking the New Yorker over an image the magazine shared on Instagram in 2019
- The image shows nude photographer Michael Bailey-Gates holding a naked baby
- It follows controversy over Balenciaga ad campaign featuring children holding teddy bears adorned in BDSM gear
A resurfaced image of a nude photographer holding a naked baby is drawing backlash online following a controversy over dubious child imagery in an Balenciaga ad campaign.
The image was shared on the New Yorker’s Instagram page in 2019, when it was also featured on the cover of now-defunct Matte Magazine.
In recent days, the image has circulated online and drawn strong backlash from critics who call it ‘disturbing’ and ‘wrong’.
The image is a 2018 self-portrait titled ‘Self-Portrait on My Birthday’ by photographer Michael Bailey-Gates, who uses the pronouns they and them.
It shows Bailey-Gates looking pensive and holding the young baby. The photographer grips a corded electronic device, which appears to be a wired shutter switch to operate the camera.
The image was shared on the New Yorker’s Instagram page in 2019, when it was also featured on the cover of now-defunct Matte Magazine
‘This is considered ‘artistic’ in the realm of new-coming fashion editorials,’ said one Twitter user, who added that the baby in the photo looked ‘terrified’.
‘It’s all creepy and filthy. New Yorker, happy to endorse child abuse,’ another tweeted.
‘This isn’t pedophilic but it IS still disturbing. The expression on the child was meant to be caught that way,’ another commented.
‘Obviously provocative,’ wrote another. ‘I think that the naked man is Michael Bailey Gates, the photographer, supposedly taking a self portrait. So, the wire is attached to a camera.’
‘The one picture alone is child abuse. Twitter needs to do better. I’ve reported his account and hopefully many others have also. The sick part is the number of followers he has. Evil,’ another wrote.
‘This is wrong and matte magazine needs to be cancelled,’ wrote another. Matte Magazine does not appear to have published a new issue since 2019.
It follows a firestorm that led Balenciaga to apologize for an advertising campaign that sparked criticism on social media over accusations that it featured inappropriate imagery involving children.
The storm over the campaign led reality television star Kim Kardashian to review her ties with the label.
The label drew fire in recent weeks over two separate campaigns that were posted online. One last month, advertising a gift collection, featured a handbag in the form of a stuffed teddy bear in bondage-style straps, held by children.
A second, separate campaign for the label’s spring 2023 collection, set in an office, included papers featuring text from a 2008 Supreme Court ruling relating to child pornography.
In a statement earlier this month, Balenciaga apologized and said that investigations into the ad campaigns were ongoing.
It said the papers featuring the legal text on child pornography were props from a third party and that it had filed a complaint against the inclusion of the ‘unapproved documents.’
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