Kim Kardashian has a very simple explanation for why she dressed as Aaliyah for Halloween this year.
In a lengthy note on her website, the reality star says she meant no offense by wearing an ensemble that invoked the late R&B singer because she didn’t even realize Aaliyah was African-American.
Kardashian came under pretty harsh fire this week for channeling Aaliyah, who tragically died in a plane crash back in 2002.
A lot of the criticism centered on the concept of cultural appropriation and how some critics thought Kim wasn’t respecting Aaliyah’s ethnicity…
… she was just exploiting it instead for her own self-serving purposes.
The backfire stemmed from a video Kim shared on Instagram last Sunday in which she donned a glimmering bra and large rhinestone choker, including with the footage a caption that simply read:
"Baby Girl Aaliyah."
Wrote one Twitter user in angry response:
"Legend or not Aaliyah is a black woman and you’re not. It’s offensive and you shouldn’t push this limit."
In our view, it was stranger that Kardashian dressed up as a dead singer (something she actually did TWICE this week) than it was she dressed up as a person of color.
Except in certain circumstances, it’s just weird to use something as awful as a fatal plane crash as the basis for your Halloween costume.
But here is how Kim defended her decision.
“When I was deciding what I wanted to be for Halloween this year, I had a lot of ideas that I narrowed down to musical icons and my second costume was Aaliyah,” Kardashian wrote on her website yesterday, adding:
“The look was inspired by what she wore in her ‘Try Again’ music video.
"I wore a custom bra top and J Brand leather pants. Ariel Tejada did my makeup and Chris Appleton did my hair."
Continued the mother of two:
“Aaliyah was such an amazing singer and she will forever be a music legend.
"I saw online that some people thought my costume was in poor taste and I am truly sorry if that offended anyone."
When Kim thinks of Aaliyah, she says she only thinks about her in the context of her impressive career and influence.
“When I was creating the costume, I wasn’t dressing up as a race or culture but rather as a woman whom I will always admire.
"I play every kind of genre of music in my home and I like for my kids to be exposed to many different artists."
Last year, North West dressed up like Axl Rose.
This year, Kourtney Kardashian dressed up like Michael Jackson.
Kim referenced both of these costumes in her conclusion:
“For me, it’s always about love and respect. I loved that Kourtney was Michael Jackson for one of her costumes, and that my son was Axl Rose.
"We don’t see color in my home. We were paying homage to people and artists we love and respect it’s that simple!”
Oh, Kim. You had us on your side until the end there.
You don’t see color?!? Come on now.
First, you actually joked with Jennifer Lawrence this week that you’re only attracted to black genitalia.
Second, there’s nothing wrong with seeing color. The idea isn’t too ignore other ethnicities and cultures, it would actually be disrespectful to pretend they don’t exist.
The idea is just to treat everyone equally and fairly and with respect.
What do YOU make of this Kim Kardashian costume controversy, readers?