Almodovar receives an apology from Instagram but the controversy does not subside

Instagram apologized for removing the ‘Madres Paralelas’ movie poster from its platform. But the controversy on the web does not subside. The poster used to promote his new film, which explores the parallel lives of two mothers during the first and second years of their children’s growth, frames a nipple from which a drop of milk comes out. So, in accordance with its own guidelines, Instagram blocked the poster for violating its “anti-nude” policies. But the protests that invaded social media in the following hours, against what has been defined as dangerous censorship, prompted the social media to quickly reverse. Instagram explained that with respect to the anti-nude policy, the platform makes some “exceptions to allow nudity in certain circumstances”, for example “when it comes to a clear artistic context”. “Therefore – added the managers of the social media – we have restored the posts that share the poster of the Almodóvar film on Instagram and we sincerely apologize for any confusion caused”. Speaking of the poster, designer Javier Jaén, author of the poster, explained that while creating the image he was aware that it could break social media rules. But, although he had this fact in mind, they had decided that art was more important. “Almodovar – Jaén affirmed – told me that he launched his films with posters all his life, long before Instagram existed, and that he would continue to do so even after Instagram”. The same considerations in these hours are bounced on the web by various users, scandalized or worried by the fact that the life or death of an artistic image can be decreed by the aesthetic policies of a social media. The film by the Spanish director is starring Penélope Cruz, Rossy de Palma and Aitana Sánchez-Gijón and will open the Venice Film Festival in competition on September 1st.