Kim Kardashian West has come to the defense of cosmetic mogul, Jeffree Star.
Here’s what happened.
After Jeffree criticized Kim’s swatches of a soon to-be released palette, a swarm of Kim’s fans came to Kim’s defense about her product, likewise calling out Jeffree’s racist “past.”
Jeffree Star is one of Youtube’s most popular beauty vloggers, averaging 1 million views per video. He is also the owner of his own, self-titled cosmetics company, Jeffree Star Cosmetics. Increasingly, however, he is becoming known for bringing nonstop drama and buzz to the beauty community. As a consequence of his behavior, folks routinely reference JS’s past, which includes his his use of racial slurs, and reference to a black women as a “black bitch,” in a 10-year old Myspace Skit. Read more about his past, and subsequent apology HERE and HERE.
So when JS tried to trash Kim’s swatches, her supporters took to her defense, citing JS’s past as evidence of his questionable judgement.
Kim didn’t take too kindly to folks bringing up Jeffree’s past, and took to her Snapchat to defend him, asking black beauty lovers and our allies to stop speaking about it. Have a look at what she said:
‘Guys, like, I see you being so petty, bringing up things in his past where he was negative. But he’s also apologized for those things and I get that it’s a serious deal if you say like racial things but I do believe in people changing and people that apologize, I will give them the benefit of the doubt.’
‘I know better than anyone that I hate when people bring up my past or mistakes that I’ve made in the past so like, let him live. I welcome honest comments about my products and because of it, I’m swatching better now.’
‘So everyone get off his a**, lets not be so negative, we’re all in this together. There’s room for all of us. Love you Jeffree!’
Here’s the thing, Jeffree, in recent years, has continued to show he hasn’t changed that much. Just a few months ago, he verbally attacked popular black beauty vlogger, Jackie Aina, by calling her an “irrelevant rat” in a series of back and forth tweets. Read all about that exchange HERE.
Last year, he also threatened to physically assault another black beauty vlogger, MakeupShayla. Read about that incident HERE.
Moreover, no one has the right to tell black women how to feel about and/or respond to racism. Sure, JS has apologized, but we are under no obligation to forgive him.
I also find it interesting that folks would take time out of their day to even alert Kim to JS’s past. She knew who he was when she invited him to her home a few months ago for the launch of her contour stick.
Her position was clear then, and it’s been made clear now. Kim’s defense of JS is rooted in the dollar bill. There is no denying that JS has major influence in the beauty world, and with him on her side, she stands to make some serious money. We get it, and we’ve always known this about Kim and her family. Cash rules everything around them. Frankly, I think it’s high time we, as a community, spend our energy elsewhere.
Click HERE for a listing of black owned cosmetics companies you can support today.
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I’m 30 something reside in Massachusetts and enjoy pop culture.
I couldn’t agree more! I’m beyond tired of the Kardashians and haven’t watched their show or purchased their products in years. Black people need to wake up! We’re the ones who gave Kim and her family a platform. They’ve literally built their empire on the backs of people they gainfully exploit without remorse. It’s crazy! But this behavior will continue until folks stop supporting them. After all this, her new contour Kit will STILL sell out and I bet there will be a black woman somewhere who will buy it SMH