Kim Kardashian West made another attempt at breaking the Internet on Wednesday when she revealed an upcoming launch of her own cosmetics line, KKW Beauty. In a series of Instagram posts, the 36-year-old entrepreneur clued followers in on the June 21 debut of her next project; and the backlash that always seems to come with so much of what Kardashian touches immediately started to kick in.
Not only was Kardashian called out for copying her younger sister Kylie Jenner, more seriously she was accused of altering her skin color for her new brand’s first promotional photos. In the image posted on multiple social media channels, Kardashian is seen with a strong contour, and an unusually dark complexion.
#KKWBEAUTY Creme Contour & Highlight Kit 6.21.17 https://t.co/PoBZ3bhjs8 pic.twitter.com/hXLa3XHuVB
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) June 14, 2017
One Twitter user immediately replied to the photo, writing “you black now sis?” which was followed by a choir of others accusing her of intentionally darkening her skin.
You dont have to do blackface pic.twitter.com/MLcJ5Hbg9R
— Wynters (@Sacha_Wynters) June 14, 2017
I love Kim but that's def black face in the form of makeup she is no where near that dark
— Jasmin Leigh (@RealJasminLeigh) June 14, 2017
Y'all wanna be Black so badly.
— Ᏸecca???????? (@MJStarLover) June 14, 2017
— Skyvin X (@Skyvin_X) June 14, 2017
Remember when this used to be her skin color? pic.twitter.com/xjFODdP6Ay
— Julie Kavanagh (@Julie_Kav) June 15, 2017
The side-by-side photos that many users posted do show a difference between what seems to be the unedited and edited versions of the photo. However, the creator of Cocoa Swatches was able to reveal some truth about the evident alteration in color.
I know tanning is big biz but this irks me to no end. They always darken up photos of lighter skin when they want to sell some highlighter pic.twitter.com/PL8mxFGnCB
— CocoaSwatches (@CocoaSwatches) June 14, 2017
“I know tanning is big biz but this irks me to no end,” she Tweeted, along with multiple photos of Kardashian. “They always darken up photos of lighter skin when they want to sell some highlighter.”
Others jumped in to agree with the above sentiment, pointing out that the lighting needed to be adjusted in order for the contour and highlight products to appear.
That's called lowering the exposure and adding contrast. Look it up.
— fattie jay ???? (@TeenyTinyIvory) June 15, 2017
The coloring is called filter and you look at her back it's dark. No light. So she looks darker. Get a life negative people.
— Rubina A. (@Rubynator) June 15, 2017
I can't wait to get this!I'm in shock that people are saying that you're trying to be black,when you're clearly showing how contour works!☻????
— Laura joyce (@lauraj8554) June 15, 2017
As for the rest of Twitter users involved, they’re just calling it a tan.
So anyone who tans is doing blackface now?? Good grief! Time for an asteroid to hit the earth! No intelligent life left down here!
— Kendall Pugs (@kendallpugs) June 15, 2017
So we're just gonna pretend like it's not summer and she doesn't live in California!? For real y'all, calm down.
— Josefina (@BeanHendo) June 15, 2017
Kardashian has yet to comment on the controversy or to take the photo down, as it remains to be the avatar for both of her personal social media accounts.
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