Everyone loves to hate Kylie Jenner. She’s too sexual, too annoying, too arrogant, too into herself, a copycat, unoriginal. You name it, she’s been called it, and I think it’s not fair. Crazy, right? How can I defend a celebrity who does things people perceive to be apprehensible?
Hear me out.
Yes, Kylie does some things that are inexcusable such as getting into a debacle with Amandla Stenberg over her cornrows, or lying to millions about getting temporary lip fillers.
I am all for black rights, especially as a black female. She did appropriate black culture. She wore cornrows without acknowledging their historical significance among blacks—a definite no-no.
However, we can’t fault her for acting how she does, because that is all she knows. Stenberg attacked her for appropriating black culture, but honestly, does Jenner know what appropriation is? She thought Stenberg was attacking her for wearing cornrows because she doesn’t like them. She responded, “Mad if I don’t, Mad if I do,” which is exactly true. She can’t do anything without getting hate. After she was informed (if she was informed) on what appropriation is, I think she should have issued an apology or some sort of statement, similar to when her half-sister Khloé Kardashian was scolded for wearing a Native American headdress and she apologized on the show. She also thanked a fan on Twitter for offering to educate her on their culture, because she was naïve to the severity of her actions when she wore the headdress.
Some might say, ‘Well, if a child does not know that a gun can kill someone and that child accidentally shoots that gun and it kills someone, is he/she not responsible for the death of the victim?’ I am not saying Kylie isn’t responsible. She most definitely should own up to her words. I am saying that people are too hard on her and do not give her the benefit of the doubt that other celebrities are warranted. Maybe it is because of the reputation surrounding her sister’s fame or her relationship with Tyga; regardless, I do not agree with it.
I do think that some people exaggerate appropriation, but that is another story for another time. (Like, is someone appropriating Italian culture when they drink wine? Anyway…)
Kylie was raised this way. She has been on Keeping up With the Kardashians since she was 10 years old.
When it comes to the temporary lip fillers, she’s insecure. She got them to make herself feel better. Millions of people—celebrities, athletes, etc.—get plastic surgery every year. She gets temporary fillers and she gets shamed on social media. I didn’t see anyone bashing her half-sister Kourtney Kardashian for getting a boob job when she was younger.
The stuff that Kylie does happens to everybody; it is just more documented because she’s famous. All teenagers get mad at their parents, but when Kylie is mean to her mom, everyone has something to say about it. She loves and appreciates her mom; she has said it and shown it.
And she’s dating Tyga. So what? There is no confirmed proof that they were dating before her 18th birthday. We only know what the media shows us or what she tells us directly on her accounts.
So, next time you want to hate on Kylie, just think about why she is the way she is. She can be irritating as any celebrity can be, but that doesn’t mean she needs to be talked down to. When Drake Bell made snarky comments about Caitlyn Jenner, society snapped at him, but then forgot about it. Why can’t Kylie get the same respect? Anytime I see a post about her on social media, I see zero positive comments. Ultimately, I will always find a way to defend Kylie, because I believe people are unnecessarily hard on her.