Petition created calling on Calvin Klein to remove controversial upskirt ad, model defends photo by saying people are scared of the female body

The controversy surrounding Calvin Klein’s “upskirt” ad is heating up.

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The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) launched a petition

Thursday calling on Calvin Klein to remove their controversial upskirt ad.

The ad — which featured an upskirt shot of 22-year-old model Klara Kristin wearing dotted CK underwear — came under fire this week as social media users called it "disgusting" and said it was drawing in "pedophiles."

“We are calling on Calvin Klein to not only remove this offensive ad, but also to suspend its Erotica advertisement campaign, and to issue an apology to victims of sexual harassment or assault everywhere,” NCOSE spokesperson Haley Halverson told the Daily News.

"Calvin Klein needs to know that just because women's bodies are in the public, it doesn't mean they are public property," Halverson added.

According to Halverson, the brand is "building a legacy of sexual exploitation."

Kristin took to Instagram on Friday morning to defend the photo in question.

“LOVE this photo @harleyweir took of me,” she wrote.

“All this discussion about it makes me think about how alienated and scared some people are to the female human body... Be and love yourself and your sexuality #girlpower.”

Her image received nearly 100 likes in just 15 minutes.

Although the model spoke out, Calvin Klein still has not released a statement pertaining to the ad.

The fashion house did not immediately respond to the Daily News’ request for comment. The brand also did not issue a response to NCOSE's petition which received hundreds of signatures in less than 24 hours.

The center went on to explain that Klein’s ad is both normalizing and glamorizing sexual harassment.

“Up-skirting is a growing trend of sexual harassment where pictures are taken up a woman’s skirt without her knowledge, or without her consent.”

Calvin Klein is known for pushing the limits when it comes to its advertisements.

In March, Kristen was also featured on a billboard alongside rapper Fetty Wap where Kristen’s line said “I seduce in #mycalvins and Fetty Waps’ read “I make money in #mycalvins.”

Heidi Zak, the CEO and cofounder of lingerie brand ThirdLove, demanded Calvin Klein remove the billboard, which she deemed “offensive” and “sexist.”

In 1995, the FBI and U.S. Department of Justice investigated the brand for a racy ad that featured young, half-dressed models. 

Calvin Klein has even been accused of “championing kiddie porn,” The Washington Post reported.

Halverson also referenced a 2010 jeans ad that was criticized for promoting gang rape.
While many suggested the company’s latest May ad was akin to pornography, others commented it is just another day in the fashion world.

President of One.1k Model Management said the company has always been progressive.

“Brooke Shields was a child when she was quoted as saying ‘nothing comes between me and my Calvins.’ Was that child porn?” he told Fox News. “In my opinion, it wasn’t then, and it isn’t now.”