The French brand Christian Louboutin is rolling out a new video series on social media. Titled “Storytime,” the project introduces and re-introduces followers to the brand’s histories, explaining classic silhouettes and the origins of the company. But one of the posts featuring Honey Balenciaga has been embroiled in backlash.
For a clip celebrating the Loubi54, a crossbody clutch that is inspired by Studio 54, the brand chose dancer Honey Gonzales, who is best known as Honey Balenciaga. In the video, Gonzalez appears voguing in a series of looks wearing neon So Kate heels and carrying a number of Loubi54 bags.
Gonzales punctured the mainstream with a star-making turn as a backup dancer on Beyonce ’s Renaissance tour but had previously become a viral standout of the underground ballroom scene. In 2020, Gonzales made a scene-stealing performance on an episode of the competition show “Legendary” before returning to compete in 2021’s Season Two, finishing as a runner-up.
Though the Louboutin video clip had previously appeared on Louboutin’s TikTok account in June, racking up more than a million views and attracting largely positive comments, the recent post on Instagram has been the subject of criticism. Since it was posted on Aug. 27, commenters have vowed to not buy and unfollow the brand as a result of the ad.
“Once upon a time … Louboutin was about sexy, confident women,” one account wrote. The post is the most-liked comment of those on the video. In another comment, content creator Ella Dvornik-Pearce wrote about the history of heels.
“High heels were originally designed for men,” she wrote, explaining origins in the 10th century as a utilitarian style for Persian horsemen, in support of the spot. “In the 17th century, high heels became a symbol of status and power among European aristocracy, with men often wearing them as a mark of their wealth and social standing.”
Gonzales came out to fans as nonbinary in 2021 via an ad for Nike. The star appeared in a Nike women’s campaign for sportswear.
“I don’t neatly fit into the categories of ‘man’ or ‘woman,’ my gender blends and changes over time,” Gonzales wrote at the time , saying their ad had been broadcast in places like Russia, Los Angeles, Brazil, Germany and Bangkok. “I identify as non-binary but you will address me as a lady. Dance allows me to express myself, communicate with my body, and celebrate being my most authentic self. That’s why I love vogue.”
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