Brooke Shields, the iconic actor and model, has had her fair share of controversial moments throughout her career. One of the most memorable incidents involved her appearance in a sexually provocative Calvin Klein advertisement back in the 1980s when she was just 15 years old. The ad received widespread attention and sparked intense debate.
Looking back at that time, Brooke now reflects on the impact it had on her life, particularly her experience during an interview with journalist Barbara Walters. In a recent guest appearance on the Armchair Expert podcast, Brooke opened up about the media’s tendency to oversexualize young actors and models, and she pointed to her own experience as evidence.
During her conversation with host Dax Shepard, Brooke described her interview with Barbara Walters as “practically criminal.” She felt ill-prepared for the line of questioning and the focus on her dimensions at such a young age. Barbara even went as far as asking Brooke if she had any secrets she hadn’t shared with her mother. It was a jarring experience, to say the least.
In an interview with Vogue, published in October 2021, Brooke further discussed the aftermath of the controversial Calvin Klein campaign. She revealed that she wasn’t at home when the commercials debuted, but she soon discovered that they were being banned in some places. The negative feedback from the public was overwhelming, and even paparazzi would criticize both Brooke and her mother.
However, Brooke maintains that she never saw the advertisement as sexually explicit. She was naive and didn’t understand the implications at the time. In her own words, she believed the slogan was not about underwear or anything sexual. She simply didn’t grasp the double entendre. Brooke was young and innocent, and she remained a virgin throughout that period.
Ironically, despite the controversy and ensuing backlash, the Calvin Klein campaign became a viral sensation. The attempts to ban it only brought more attention and curiosity. As Brooke explains, the controversy backfired. The campaign was incredibly successful, and Calvin Klein proved they knew how to push boundaries. It set a precedent for decades to come.
Calvin Klein has always been a brand known for its provocative advertising strategies. They have frequently blurred the lines between being inappropriate and seductive. Over the years, they have faced both fame and notoriety, but they have never shied away from taking risks.
In conclusion, Brooke Shields’ reflection on her interview with Barbara Walters sheds light on the challenges young actors and models face in the media. It serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting and respecting the innocence of youth in an industry that often exploits it. And despite the ups and downs of her career, Brooke remains a resilient and timeless figure in the entertainment world.
