Can we all just agree that children are off limits? If not adolescents, can we at least agree that toddlers should not be used for click bait unless they are doing something incredibly cute, adorable, or age-appropriately funny?
Billboard thought it was a good idea to use an image of North West eating a lollipop while being held by her mother underneath the caption, “The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From the Tree.”
Slut-shaming women isn't okay. Slut-shaming baby girls is really not okay. I don't care who their mothers are. https://t.co/aFk2RqNkiR
Sure, it may be the fact that most of us first got to know who Kim Kardashian was because of her sex-tape that causes us to believe that Billboard sexualized a child for click bait. Regardless, I hope we can all agree that this was both disgusting and unacceptable. Twitter thought so as well:
.@billboard she’s a damn baby. An editor should never position such innuendo on the image of a child, regardless of her famous parent.
— Janet Mock (@janetmock) October 30, 2015
Jamil Smith of the New Republic put it best:
Slut-shaming women isn’t okay. Slut-shaming baby girls is really not okay. I don’t care who their mothers are. https://t.co/aFk2RqNkiR
— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) October 30, 2015
Did you honestly think sexualizing a toddler like this was acceptable? Disgusting. @billboard pic.twitter.com/DElqgdFSNQ — #HTTR! (@kaegann) October 30, 2015
Billboard, like so many other who stick their digital feet in their mouths, has since deleted the tweet. Unfortunately, the damage was already done.
Some defenders of this tweet pointed out that the actual article was about the relationship North West had with the media and paparazzi. While still inexcusable, one Twitterer decided to fix their featured image with a more appropriate mashup:
I fixed it for you @billboard . “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” pic.twitter.com/ZsQWTUP8sM
— Prince Trilliam Abu (@PoloWill) October 30, 2015
I’m no fan of the Kardashians. In fact, I think the world would be a better place without the global obsession for talentless reality stars and shows. But clearly this is unacceptable and disgusting. What thought processes went into this? How this was considered a good idea and how this got past an editor is beyond me.
As Jamil Smith of the New Republic pointed out, slut shaming of women is entirely unacceptable. I would simply add that extending that shame to a child is unfathomable.
And while deleting the post may suggest remorse, Billboard has yet to issue a statement or apology.
Without question, there should be an editor and a social media manager looking for work before the end of business today.
Featured image via screengrab of Tweet that has since been deleted.
