Entertainment
After all the discussion about cultural appropriation that's been happening recently, one would think that celebrities - especially those with a lot of fame and influence - would want to steer clear of causing any more drama. But, apparently, Kim Kardashian didn't get that memo.
The kween of reality TV has gotten herself in hot water on several occasions for doing things that people deemed to be insulting or appropriative of other cultures; namely her recent decision to get what she described as "Bo Derek braids" (which was considered problematic because she attributed the style to a white woman), and the controversy over her skin looking as if it had been darkened for the promotion of her KKW beauty line.
But it seems that those two incidents taught her nothing in the long run, as she's now been called out again for using other people's cultures to peddle her image and products.
The backlash over her behaviour began on Monday of this week, when TMZ obtained documents about Kim's latest business venture: a lingerie line. In the documents, there was evidence that the company who has been put in charge of leading the product had put forward a motion to trademark the name "Kimono Intimates" for the brand.
However, this was quickly jumped on as an inappropriate move by the reality star, as it bears clear allusions to Japanese style and culture - something which Kim has no ties to. What's more, as the kimono is something which has already been misappropriated by the fashion world (having been transformed from a formal garment to basically any open robe), the topic was already a pretty divisive one.
Kim has not yet explained exactly why she went with the name, though, so it could just be a simple - albeit poorly thought-out - play on her name.
Of course, the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star is no stranger to a little online furor every now and then. Just a matter of weeks ago, in fact, the internet was up in arms about another of her products.
Her new fragrance KKW BODY 4.30 caused quite the stink (heh) when it hit the market due to the explicit design of the bottle. You see, Kim couldn't quite deal with the idea of having a regular shaped bottle like everybody else. Instead, she had to be her usual, extra self and model the packaging on her own body.
And once she posted the nude snaps the bottle was based on, everyone had an opinion on them. Wendy Williams, in particular, was outspoken on what she thought of the reality star. On her show, she said:
"I don’t know whether this is just a boring day in her life or whether she’s purposely doing this to draw attention from the Kanye debacle, which has exploded, but yesterday she posts this picture — nude," she said. "Totally nude. Totally done, no razor bumps, no ingrown hairs, no nothing. You know what, even if there is a little bit of airbrushing, you gotta admit... it’s still good. But how pathetic is she? How pathetic!"
With the amount of outrage she causes on social media, it often seems as if Kim does these things to intentionally rouse a little trouble. However, when it comes to the case of Kimono Intimates, there must be an explanation for why she went with the name.
Perhaps it's innocent; perhaps it's ignorant. Either way, I'm sure we'll hear from her soon.