Is this Calvin Klein’s ‘Bud light moment’? Ad showing trans man in sports bra draws backlash

A Calvin Klein ad featuring a trans man posing in a sports bra has sparked a furious backlash after going viral online.

In a promotional snap shared by the brand, long known for its sexy and sultry ads featuring toned topless models, Bappie Kortram can be seen wearing a pair of jeans and a sports bra.

Bappie, who is from the Netherlands, is represented by a number of modeling agencies around the world, including Britain’s Zebedee Talent, who describe him as “a trans man who has yet to have top surgery.”

The ad, which was initially shared as part of the Calvin Klein Pride 2022 campaign, went viral this week after it was reposted on Twitter by Dr. Anastasia Maria Loupis, who posted: ‘Calvin Klein wants to go bankrupt’.

Images from the same shoot are still used on Calvin Klein’s UK website.

Other users were stunned by the ad, with one writing: “Disgusting and I love Calvin Klein jeans.” This isn’t a big advertisement for your clothes at all. Stop giving in to all these demands, as this will only hurt your brand in the long run.

The brand has long been known for its sultry, sultry ads featuring toned topless models (a previous ad is pictured here)

Another added: ‘The bra/beard thing has me confused. If he is trying to be more feminine why keep the beard or do these trans women have beards?

‘Is he just gay and wears a bra because he’s overweight and thinks it’s cute? Many questions. Ha ha ha.’

A third wrote: ‘Wow, this makes clothes look ugly. I thought the ads worked to make things look attractive and aspirational?’

Another commented: ‘Good for them, they feel so good about themselves, but I don’t think most people find this physically attractive or want to see it. Surely not!

‘No thanks to Calvin Klein, enjoy your time with Bud Light!’

Another wrote: ‘This can’t be legit. Come on. Let me wake up from this nightmare.

One added: ‘Disgusting. A far cry from your haute couture advertisements.

“I don’t understand why they want to promote ugly,” one commented, while another wrote: “That must attract about 10 people.”

“In their attempt to appease a small minority, they are alienating a vast majority!” another wrote.

However, others defended the ad, with one commenting that it was the “first time they felt like a Calvin Klein model.”

Other images from the campaign also show Bappie posing in a different pair of boxers and a bra.

Meanwhile, another snapshot shows the two models apparently exchanging a kiss, while Bappie places her hands on the other model’s Calvin Klein briefs.

Bappie shared a post on Instagram last year when the pictures were first taken, revealing how happy he was to have been featured by the famous brand.

The snapshot went viral online after a Twitter user shared the snapshot on the social media platform.

He wrote: ‘There aren’t enough words in any language to describe how much I love Jamilla and how much this shoot means to both of us.

“The fact that we have been selected for the Calvin Klein pride collection makes us proud on many levels that intersect

‘1. We were both about to enter new chapters in our lives. Jamilla and her gastric sleeve and my upcoming top surgery. These are beautiful memories (and mamories! lol)

‘2. To show unapologetically fat love, fat pride, fat cis, fat trans, fat joy.

Social media users were stunned by the ad, with some questioning that it was actually a promotional photo for Calvin Klein.

‘3. That all trans bodies are good bodies. The CK team was very kind to let me wear bralettes and a bodysuit.

“I think it’s important to show that trans masculine bodies with breasts should be celebrated and that masculinity doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy feminine clothing.”

She continued, “I hope these images inspire you all to be happier and more proud of your bodies, of your weirdness, of whatever it is you’re doing right now!”

He ended his post by thanking the brand.

The image went viral weeks after Bud Light entered damage control over an association with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.

Mulvaney sparked widespread outrage in April with a post of her sitting in a bathtub sipping from a Bud Light can personalized with her face.

Bappie shared a post on Instagram last year when the pictures were first taken, revealing how happy he was to have been featured by the famous brand.

Other images from the campaign also show Bappie posing in a different pair of boxers and bra while apparently exchanging a kiss with another model.

He posted with the hashtag #budlightpartner to coincide with the NCAA March Madness tournament, before joking that he didn’t know what sport he was promoting.

The disastrous marketing deal has sent sales of the flagship American beer plunging by as much as 20 percent week after week.

And there have also been calls to boycott Adidas for using a biologically male model to promote a women’s swimsuit in its ‘Pride 2023’ collection.

The sportswear giant drew the fury of fans who accused it of making a “mockery” of women when it unveiled an ad for the £50 swimsuit that is part of its campaign to “champion for inclusive values”.

But disenfranchised fans continued to criticize the ‘woke’ firm, with some encouraging customers to ‘burn’ their Adidas Gazelle sneakers in protest.