Kim Kardashian Accused Of Disrespecting Japanese Culture With Kimono Shapewear Line
By Whitney Vasquez on June 26, 2019 at 5:10 AM EDT
Kim Kardashian has been accused of stealing and profiting off Japanese culture after announcing the name of her new shapewear line.
The "KUWTK" star introduced her Kimono shapewear on Tuesday, saying it's been a year in the making ... but fans are livid with Kim for her "level of ignorance" on the culture appropriation.
"You can’t.... call it... kimono... it’s not a play on ur name... it’s already an actual thing and ur kinda appropriating Japanese culture," one fan wrote. "Kimono’s are important in Japanese culture, you cant call women’s shape wear kimono. It doesn’t belong to you, Kimono belongs to the Japanese people," commented another.
Kim's comments are full of fans blasting the star who say her level of disrespect and culture appropriation is "not something to celebrate."
Here's more comments:
"please DO NOT steal out culture!! kimono is our traditional formal dress NOT underwear."
"It's not kimono and you have no respect to Japanese culture. Why kimono?"
"I hope it kind of makes sense to people that the kimono has deep cultural significance to the Japanese people. Whether it’s Kim (or anyone else), it’s just not cool to trademark and profit from something that you & your product don’t have any actual connection to."
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This is the second day in a row that Kim Kardashian has been slammed on products related to her business ventures.
"Good Place" star Jameela Jamil had some harsh words for the entrepreneur regarding her new body makeup.
The actress took to social media to label the concept a danger to women and said Kim's body makeup "is based on a Photoshop ideal" of the female body.
Kim has finally addressed the Kimono shapewear backlash, releasing a statement putting to bed any accusations of disrespect for the culture.
“I understand and have deep respect for the significance of the kimono in Japanese culture and have no plans to design or release any garments that would in any way resemble or dishonor the traditional garment," Kim began.
Saying she decided on the name "not to disassociate the word from its Japanese roots but as a nod to the beauty and detail that goes into a garment."
Adding that filing a trademark was necessary to protect her brand, but in no way does Kim doing so "preclude or restrict anyone, in this instance, from making kimonos or using the word kimono in reference to the traditional garment."
The "KUWTK" star concluded her statement by shining light on the diversity of the brand, saying, "My solutionwear brand is built with inclusivity and diversity at its core and I’m incredibly proud of what’s to come.”
