Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Is the Calvin Klein Billboard Offensive?
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jun 15, 2009
Modified Jun 15, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jun 15, 2009
Modified Jun 15, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Photo via bitchcakes flickr
C'mon New York, are we such prudes that we can't handle a little denim clad foursome? People are reportedly up in arms over the latest Calvin Klein billboard that the Daily News says "seems to show a teenage girl in a threesome—with suggestions of a foursome."
Located at Lafayette and Houston Streets, not too far away from the always risque American Apparel ads, the billboard has been called "borderline pornographic" by locals, who are also raising eyebrows at the youthfulness of the girl in the ad. And one tourist visiting from Texas said, "I think it's telling people it's okay to do that, and it's kind of gross." Sure, tourists may be shocked at the idea of four clothed jean-lovin' kids dry-humping, but have the rest of us really not come this far since 1981, when a 15-year old Brooke Shields posed spread eagle in a commercial declaring that nothing would come between her and her Calvins?
Meanwhile, on the business side, an Ad Critic for Adweek Media Magazine thinks the billboard is "a desperate act for Calvin Klein," but the company says the "intention was to create a very sexy campaign that speaks to our targeted demographic."
Tagged
ad
billboard
Calvin Klein
controversial
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
ICE agent fires 7 rounds, shoots man in neck in NYC's Marble Hill, NYPD says
Police say the man arrived at a hospital in stable condition and a 5-year-old boy in his SUV is safe.
By
Giulia Heyward
and
Arya Sundaram
Published Oct 8, 2026 at 5:33 p.m. ET
Modified Oct 8, 2026 at 11:48 p.m. ET
Lazy drivers in Prospect Heights lose chance for 1 less day of alternate-side parking
A pilot found that drivers actually complied with alternate-side less when fewer days were in effect.
By
Liam Quigley
News
Lazy drivers in Prospect Heights lose chance for 1 less day of alternate-side parking
A pilot found that drivers actually complied with alternate-side less when fewer days were in effect.
By
Liam Quigley
Jersey City mayor shakes up staff amid $255M budget gap
By
Michael Sol Warren
Bronx residents will be exempt from new Medicaid work rule, state officials say
By
Caroline Lewis
MTA chair accuses Andy Byford, who's leading Penn Station rebuild, of going 'full MAGA'
By
Stephen Nessen
and
Carol Chen
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .