Overview
- Pierpaolo Piccioli said Meghan Markle contacted him directly to attend Balenciaga’s Oct. 4 Paris show, describing her front-row presence as a self-initiated surprise.
- The runway was Piccioli’s first at Balenciaga since taking over as creative director in July, a relationship cited as Markle’s reason for attending.
- A widely shared clip showed Markle briefly laughing as a model fell, prompting online criticism that questioned her empathy and accused her of hypocrisy.
- Markle’s spokesperson denied she was mocking the model, saying she was speaking to her companion and was not aware of the fall at that moment.
- Balenciaga’s lingering 2022 ad scandal involving children and BDSM-themed imagery resurfaced in reactions, despite the brand having withdrawn the campaigns and acknowledged responsibility.