Held at gunpoint, gagged, dumped in a bath and robbed. Sounds like the start of a horror film. But this was a reality for Kim Kardashian when her Parisian luxury apartment was raided by a gang of thieves in the early hours of yesterday morning, and circa £9million-worth of jewellery was stolen. Reports have subsequently emerged revealing how the reality TV star begged for her life and cried out that she had two children… It’s difficult to write, it’s shocking to read, but to experience? Surely a worst nightmare realised.
Everyone likes to judge Kim Kardashian. But, here, we leave judgments at the door. Because the image of a mother fearing for her life, whose overriding thoughts were for the future of her children, is something that touches everyone – men and women, parents and non-parents… That’s how humanity works, isn’t it?
‘Star flaunted massive rock given to her by Kanye just two hours before she was robbed at gunpoint’. So ran a headline on MailOnline. What does this imply? That Kim encouraged the crime. That if she hadn’t ‘flaunted’ her jewels [definition of flaunt: to display something in order to promote envy], this wouldn’t have happened. Ergo, it’s her fault.
On what planet does this make sense? To suggest that a woman is responsible for a crime that has been perpetrated against her? It makes me sick.
Fine, Kim Kardashian posted a video to SnapChat, hours before the robbery, where she was seen to be wearing her £3.5million ‘second’ engagement ring given to her by Kanye West. But at what point did she make the instruction: ‘rob me’? Yes, she had also worn it out and about on numerous occasions in Paris over the last week. But why shouldn’t she wear jewellery given to her by her husband?
Some have taken umbrage to her ‘flashing’ it on social media, inferring she should have been more discreet. Kim Kardashian isn’t discreet. That’s why so many people follow her on social media. And let’s get some perspective here. Kim wasn’t walking down the dark streets of Crimeville, on her own, decked out head-to-toe in diamonds. She posted those pictures from the (supposed) safety of her hotel room. Was she showing off the ring? Perhaps. But what else is social media for? Anyone questioning her motives should take a look at their own social media account, and examine how that snap of their brand new bag, or pet, or holiday, or home, or wedding, or whatever it might be, is any different.
If that wasn’t bad enough – the crime itself, the accusation of blame – there are other assertions that it’s all a big publicity stunt – a rumour circulated by Kim’s ex-bodyguard, Steve Stanulis. (Unsurprisingly, this man was also responsible for telling New York Post’s Page Six ‘… the only person to blame for this incident is Kim Kardashian.’ He was also the man fired earlier this year for allegedly ‘flirting’ with Kim. A totally reliable, unbiased source, in that case.)
Following his claims, however, reports have emerged examining the possibility that it’s actually true; that the incident was invented to whip up interest ahead of the new series of reality TV show, Keeping Up With The Kardashians. The programme amassed its lowest ratings ever last June.
Examples of how publicity-loving Kim has been snapped bra-less and pants-less in recent weeks have also been used as evidence to suggest that because Kim courts attention, the PR-stunt advocates must be right. As one fashion editor told The Hollywood Reporter yesterday, ‘I don't think anything in her life happens that she hasn't orchestrated.’
What does this mean, exactly? Nothing bad can ever happen to Kim Kardashian? Why? Because unlike every other person in the world, Kim is somehow in control of every aspect of her life? That for her, nothing is unexpected, unplanned, not choreographed…? Surely no one believes that. Surely people don’t buy into the idea that what we see on KUWTK is actually fact? Tell me we can still tell the difference between reality TV and reality?
In a piece published by the Daily Mail, Kim Kardashian’s biographer, Sean Smith, was reported to have said: ‘She has sold every part of herself. But I wonder if this incident may be the beginning of the end of Kim Kardashian.’ A deeply troubling inference.
A woman becomes a victim of crime and the points raised concern: blaming her for the crime, questioning whether it actually happened, and suggesting that, as a result of it, she is in some way finished?
What a dangerous precedent this sets – on a global stage. We must do everything we can to dispute it.
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