Balenciaga drops $25M lawsuit against producers of disturbing campaign

Balenciaga is dropping its $25 million lawsuit against the producers of a controversial ad campaign that sparked accusations the luxury fashion house is promoting child abuse.

Attorneys for Balenciaga filed the notice of discontinuance Friday in New York, according to paperwork obtained by The Post. Balenciaga President and CEO Cedric Charbit said in a Friday statement the celebrity-adored company “decided not to pursue litigation.”

Balenciaga filed suit Nov. 25 against production outfit North Six and set designer Nicholas Des Jardins after the company came under fire for an ad showing paperwork from a Supreme Court case that upheld part of a federal child pornography law. Balenciaga has said it suspects the background documents came from the filming of a TV drama.

In its initial filing, Balenciaga claimed North Six and Des Jardins’ “inexplicable acts and omissions were malevolent or, at the very least, extraordinarily reckless. As a result of defendants’ misconduct, members of the public, including the news media, have falsely and horrifically associated Balenciaga with the repulsive and deeply disturbing subject of the court decision.”

The Post reached out to North Six and Des Jardins for comment. Representatives for both had previously denied they were responsible for the campaign’s disturbing details.

The end of the lawsuit comes amid significant fallout for the runway brand.

A second spring 2023 campaign showed young children posing with teddy bears sporting bondage gear — spurring celebrities to denounce the pictures and social media influencers to rip up their Balenciaga clothing and accessories.

In Balenciaga’s latest statement, Charbit promised better internal controls and a fund to support organizations devoted to protecting children.

“I want to personally reiterate my sincere apologies for the offense caused and take my responsibility,” Charbit wrote.

“At Balenciaga, we stand together for children safety and do not tolerate any kind of violence and hatred message.”

Following the backlash, the fashion house pulled the ads and apologized.

Creative director Demna and photographer Gabriele Galimberti also addressed the teddy bear campaign in separate statements.