Brooke Shields Opens Up About Her 1980 Barbara Walters Interview: ‘Practically Criminal

“Want to know what stands between me and my Calvins? Nothing. “.

When discussing Brooke Shields and Calvin Klein, that catchphrase will always come to mind. She ranks high on the list of today’s most attractive actors and models.

The 1980s Calvin Klein ad, which featured the then-rising young model and was widely criticized for its sexually suggestive content, had her as its face.

When she appeared in this commercial and uttered the catchy slogan, Brooke was only 15 years old. The debate was so heated that some countries outlawed the advertisement. She was young and didn’t realize that her line in the commercial was pornographic at the time.

This made some interviews for her confusing and upsetting, like the one she had with journalist Barbara Walters. Last but not least, Brooke calls this interview “practically criminal.”. “.

In a guest appearance on the Armchair Expert podcast, Brooke discussed how young actors and models are oversexualized in the media. She used her own experience working as a model for Calvin Klein as support.

When she gave several interviews following the controversy, including one with Barbara Walters, she was likewise unprepared for what was about to strike her. Since then, she has found that interview “maddening. “.

It almost seems criminal. It isn’t journalism, she proclaimed. “.

Brooke recalls that Barbara misled her with a few inquiries during the interview. Then, according to Brooke, she was asked if she had any secrets she had kept from her mother after being questioned about her dimensions. She was only fifteen years old.

Brooke also talked about the unfavorable feedback she got from the campaign in an interview with Vogue that was published in October 2021.

She remarked, “I wasn’t at home when they debuted, and then I started hearing that the commercials were being banned. “How could you,” the paparazzi would yell at my mother and me. Simply put, I found it to be absurd. “.

Brooke insisted that she had never perceived the phrase as a double entendre or as having any sexual overtones. I didn’t think it was about underwear or sexual in nature,” the woman continued. I was easily duped. I think it was assumed that I was far more smart than I was. I was a virgin at the time and always would be. “.

The Calvin Klein advertisement was banned, and she and her mother received negative press, but the campaign still managed to go viral.

Brooke said, “The controversy backfired. Underwear overtook jeans in popularity after the campaign was quite successful. [Calvin Klein] knew how to push things to their limits. Decades of precedent were established.

The name Calvin Klein has grown in notoriety and fame over time. And once you are familiar with their advertising tactics, you can understand why. As you can see, the business has never been worried about bad reviews.

It is no secret that it frequently vacillates between inappropriate and seductive.

The problems that Calvin Klein has previously faced are well known to Brooke Shields. The popularity and interest they currently enjoy are a result of their current marketing campaign. And the brand will always be willing to take chances despite years of criticism and condemnation.

Below is a video of the advertisement.