Dolce & Gabbana 2007 ad resurfaces after Palermo gang rape, reigniting debate on sexualized imagery

A 2007 Dolce & Gabbana advertisement photographed by Steven Klein, depicting an implied gang rape, resurfaced online following a real gang rape in Palermo in July 2023. The ad, which had been removed in Italy and Spain due to public backlash, was mistaken by many as a new campaign. The article contrasts the fictional representation with the real violence, critiquing the aestheticization of sexual assault in fashion advertising. It references similar controversial campaigns, such as Calvin Klein Jeans' 2010 A/I campaign by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott featuring Lara Stone, and Steven Meisel's 2006 editorial 'State of Emergency' for Vogue Italia, both of which faced censorship. The piece argues that while advertising has evolved away from overtly patriarchal and sexist stereotypes, the objectification of women persists. It calls for critical debate rather than censorship, noting the need for sexual education in schools and a shift in cultural consciousness. The article is authored by Helga Marsala and published on Artribune.