Calvin Klein courts backlash over trans Mother’s Day ad campaign [photo]

Calvin Klein celebrated Robert Bete's pregnancy journey as a fertile trans man.

By / / Fashion
Calvin Klein trans

High-end fashion house Calvin Klein found itself on the receiving end of backlash over a recent Mother’s Day campaign that paid recognition to transgender pregnancies.

Calvin Klein draws ire over trans Mother’s Day promo

As the world rejoiced in celebrating mothers, on Sunday, Calvin Klein chimed in on what could be tagged as an outrage gimmick and launched an ad campaign in honour of trans relationships.

Social media commenters were left gob-smacked by the fashion brand’s valorous Mother’s Day tribute that featured a pregnant trans male model Robert Bete and his girlfriend Erica Feeha.

“In support of women and mothers all over the world, we’re spotlighting the realities of new families,” the high-end fashion brand wrote in its campaign post.

In a post published on Wednesday, Bete revealed that his baby was successfully born after 12 hours of labour.

“After 12 hours of labor, the most intense pain I have ever felt, it came! Noah Fernandes Bête Born May 10th at 1:12 pm, where on that same day 3 years ago I was fulfilling my biggest dream, the mastectomy. I don’t know if it’s just a coincidence but May 10th will be marked for my whole life, the two most important things for me happened on that date,” Bete wrote,

This quote was translated from Portuguese

This inclusive and, admittedly, risky campaign landed Calvin Klein on the wrong side of women, mostly women, who were far from pleased with the controversial display of a pregnant bearded man.

Here are some of the reactions to the Calvin Klein ad campaign: