Calvin Klein has apologized to the LGBTQ community after the company was criticized on social media for its latest ad featuring heterosexual model Bella Hadid kissing female robot Lil Miquela.

In the ad, which is part of the company’s latest ‘My Calvins’ campaign, Hadid is seen with Lil Miquela, a computer-generated robotic model.

Hadid is standing while wearing a Calvin shirt.

With techno beat music playing in the background, the narrator says: ‘Life is about opening doors.’

Bella Hadid is seen left kissing female robot Lil Miquela in an ad for Calvin Klein

The ad is part of the latest 'My Calvins' campaign by the popular fashion brand. Bella Hadid is seen left with Lil Miquela

The camera then zooms in on Hadid as a silhouette of her and Lil Miquela appears on the wall behind her.

The robot then enters the picture, standing right beside Hadid.

‘Creating new dreams you never knew could exist,’ the narrator says.

Hadid then moves closer to Lil Miquela and plants a kiss on her lips.

The two then stand face to face as the camera pans out.

The ad was posted to Lil Miquela’s social media account.

‘I am here. That is my truth,’ the caption reads.

Lil Miquela, also known as Miquela Sousa, is a fictional character and digital art project.

Lil Miquela, also known as Miquela Sousa, is a fictional character and digital art project

Her Instagram account has amassed over a million followers, giving her a status as a social media influencer

Her Instagram account has amassed over a million followers, giving her a status as a social media influencer.

In response to the ad, a number of social media users accused Calvin Klein of ‘queer baiting.’

According to Urban Dictionary, queer baiting is when ‘people in the media add homoerotic tension between two characters to attract more liberal and queer viewers with the indication of them not ever getting together for real in the show/book/movie.’

One Twitter user wrote in response to the ad: ‘There are plenty of real LGBTQ Models that could have been used.’

One Twitter user wrote in response to the ad: ‘There are plenty of real LGBTQ Models that could have been used’

Madison Malone Kircher tweeted: ‘Who is gonna tell Calvin Klein you're supposed to wait until June for your tone-deaf queer-bait ad campaigns!! lil miquela and bella hadid out here smooching two weeks too early!!!’

Another Twitter user wrote: ‘CALVIN KLEIN RLY USED A ROBOT TO QUEER BAIT I -’

‘Stop using lesbianism to sell your clothing.. we’re not garnish for men,’ tweeted Berkin Koluglu

‘"Life is about" what? This is a total queer bait,’ tweeted another Twitter user

Madison Malone Kircher tweeted: ‘Who is gonna tell Calvin Klein you're supposed to wait until June for your tone-deaf queer-bait ad campaigns!! lil miquela and bella hadid out here smooching two weeks too early!!!’

Another Twitter user wrote: ‘CALVIN KLEIN RLY USED A ROBOT TO QUEER BAIT I -’.

‘"Life is about" what? This is a total queer bait,’ tweeted another Twitter user.

‘Stop using lesbianism to sell your clothing.. we’re not garnish for men,’ tweeted Berkin Koluglu.

The company issued an apology on Saturday.

In a statement, it said: ‘The concept for our latest #MYCALVINS campaign is to promote freedom of expression for a wide range of identities, including a spectrum of gender and sexual identities.

‘As a company with a longstanding tradition of advocating for LGTBQ+ rights, it was certainly not our intention to misrepresent the LGTBQ+ community,' the company said in a statement

‘This specific campaign was created to challenge conventional norms and stereotypes in advertising.

‘In this particular video, we explored the blurred lines between reality and imagination.

‘We understand and acknowledge how featuring someone who identifies as heterosexual in a same-sex kiss could be perceived as queer-baiting.

‘As a company with a longstanding tradition of advocating for LGTBQ+ rights, it was certainly not our intention to misrepresent the LGTBQ+ community.

‘We sincerely regret any offense we caused.’

The camera then zooms out and shows Lil Miquela.