Growing up in the limelight, Kylie Jenner has had her share of public scrutiny. Recently, on an episode of The Kardashians aired on June 20, Kylie broke down in front of her sister Kendall Jenner, discussing how deeply criticism about her physical appearance has affected her. “It’s a miracle I still have confidence and can still look in the mirror and still think I’m pretty,” said the beauty mogul. Despite claiming to be “numb” to the negative opinions, Kylie admitted, “I guess it does affect me.” Let’s delve into five major controversies that ignited intense online backlash against Kylie Jenner.
1. Wheelchair Photoshoot Backlash
In December 2015, Kylie appeared on the cover of Interview Magazine in a wheelchair, striking a robotic pose. The photoshoot, intended to portray Kylie as “someone in control of her image,” was deemed ableist and offensive, sparking outrage for appropriating a wheelchair as a fashion prop.
2. ‘Self-Made’ Billionaire Debate
In 2019, Forbes named Kylie the youngest ‘self-made billionaire’, a title that ignited controversy. Critics argued her fame and family connections provided an undeniable advantage. Kylie acknowledged her head start in a New York Times interview but maintained that her financial success was self-made without inherited money.
3. Tone-Deaf Birthday Launch
For her 22nd birthday in 2019, Kylie launched a money-themed cosmetics line with shades named ‘Work for It’, ‘On a Budget’, and ‘Money Ain’t Everything’. The launch was criticized for flaunting wealth and being insensitive to followers, with many interpreting the marketing as mocking those with less money.
4. Mink Fur Controversy
During the devastating Australian bushfires of 2019-2020, Kylie posted about wildlife suffering, only to later flaunt mink fur slippers on Instagram. This apparent hypocrisy drew severe backlash, with many labeling her actions as tone-deaf.
5. Climate Criminal Accusations
In 2022, Kylie’s 17-minute flight over California to avoid a 45-minute car drive was revealed by @CelebJets on X, sparking outrage. Adding fuel to the fire, she posted a photo with then-partner Travis Scott in front of their private jets, captioned “you wanna take mine or yours?”
Public Reaction to Kylie’s Breakdown
The internet remains unforgiving. Critics argue Kylie has perpetuated unrealistic beauty standards and profited from selling a distorted reality. One X user commented, “Kylie Jenner has been selling teenage girls a distorted view of reality with her diet teas and face/lip injections for 10 years, but now she’s crying over it??? This girl made millions off destroying women’s self esteem and now we’re supposed to feel sorry for her??? Nope!!!!”
Another remarked, “Maybe if her and her family didn’t spend decades perpetuating unrealistic beauty standards, she wouldn’t have these issues 🤷♂️”. A more neutral perspective suggested, “At this point, anyone who wants to be a celebrity should sign a paper that says they know people will be talking about them! You can’t have 400 million followers and expect each one to love everything about you”.
Do you think the internet has been harsh with Kylie Jenner? Share your thoughts below.
