#KKWBEAUTY Creme Contour & Highlight Kit 6.21.17 https://t.co/PoBZ3bhjs8 pic.twitter.com/hXLa3XHuVB
— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) June 14, 2017
Kim Kardashian is no stranger to controversy, she’s so polarizing that it seems like no matter what she does it upsets somebody. Of course, that’s part of the price of fame, and given how famous she is, she has to pay that price often. Kim stirred up her latest bit of controversy on Wednesday, when she announced a new kit from her makeup line and set off a firestorm about what some perceived to be her wearing blackface.
KKW Beauty launches next week so Kim announced a new color and contour kit, and in doing so posted a picture of herself seemingly darker than usual. Some took offense, immediately saying she was wearing blackface and pointing out that she was lighter in similar pictures.
You dont have to do blackface pic.twitter.com/MLcJ5Hbg9R
— Bae Yeong-Sae (@Xasha_Wynters) June 14, 2017
It could be unintentional, or just a darker filter and some photoshop wizardry to show that the line has darker palettes for women of all shades. But, Kim also could have used a person of color to model the darker palettes if that was the case. Kim has been accused many times before of exploiting and appropriating black culture, a problem that has existed forever and is beyond frustrating for people within that culture. So, as a result, Kim’s mentions were filled with people calling her out for the perceived disrespect, but because it’s the internet, just as many jumped in to defend her.
It may have been innocent enough, and by no means is this actual, literal, minstrel show blackface, but we’ve seen this dance before. Kim will probably apologize, plead ignorance and people will be unsatisfied and unmoved. Rinse repeat. Hopefully she breaks the trend, offers a nuanced response and everything will all makes sense tomorrow. Check out some of the reactions below.
https://twitter.com/pettyyonceh/status/875067419101999104
https://twitter.com/BrittxBudell/status/875075953583640581
Do you know the difference between blackface and contour?
— 𐚁 madness, madness and stupidity 🗿𓆣𐚁 (@keyawnce3) June 15, 2017
Y'all wanna be Black so badly.
— 𝙱𝚎𝚌𝚌𝚊 ⚡️ (@MJFINESSELOVER) June 14, 2017
https://twitter.com/bantuthots/status/875074736866373632
https://twitter.com/Julie_Kav/status/875274433077821440
So we're just gonna pretend like it's not summer and she doesn't live in California!? For real y'all, calm down.
— Josefina (@FinaV3) June 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/michishiges/status/875061519997915136
https://twitter.com/Lovatictrouble/status/875350530842865664
— Skyvin X (@Skyvin_X) June 14, 2017
Beautiful…its ok for everyone to use filters, contouring and tan but when ur a celebrity u get criticized, smh. Get a life people. 💋
— Michelle Briner (@MichelleBriner5) June 15, 2017
— ThePaige (@thePaigespeaks) June 15, 2017
pretty sure the whole photo is shaded. def not blackface. ffs.
— hc8044 (@hc8044) June 15, 2017