Cape Town - Kim Kardashian pretty much wins every Halloween with her risqué costumes and over-the-top looks – but this year, one of her outfits had the internet up in arms.
The 37-year-old reality star chose to wear three costumes this Halloween. First, she stunned by dressing up like her idol Cher, looking eerily like the legendary songstress.
Her second outfit was also a hit as she channelled Madonna, with her sister Kourtney right by her side dressed as Michael Jackson. But Kim’s third outfit raised more than a few eyebrows.
The soon-to-be mom of three shared a snap of herself dressed as R&B star Aaliyah – who died in a plane crash in 2001 – captioning the snap: ”Baby girl Aaliyah” on Twitter and Instagram.
She wore an outfit similar to the one Aaliyah wore in her popular Try Again music video – a bejewelled bra and choker paired with tight leather pants.
The uproar was almost instantaneous. Twitter users flooded the star with criticism, accusing her of cultural appropriation and claiming she had used extra tanning lotion to appear ‘darker’.
Legend or not Aaliyah is a black woman and you’re not. It’s offensive and you shouldn’t push this limit, but ok... ??
— Blogger Cassie (@LAGrlCrookdSmle) October 29, 2017
Others said it was in appropriate for Kim to dress up as the late singer.
It's offensive because babygirl is DEAD & you can't pay hommage when you're an Armenian just using her look as a costume. That's the issue.
— Shaurenza Jiménez (@Shaurenza) October 29, 2017
I've watched enough KUWTK to be able to "strongly assume" she never gave a shit about Aaliyah or hip-hop/ and r&b culture in general.
— Shaurenza Jiménez (@Shaurenza) October 29, 2017
W/ that being said, she's discarding the hommage Aaliyah, & the culture deserves, just to look like another beautiful legend for Halloween.
— Shaurenza Jiménez (@Shaurenza) October 29, 2017
Some fans came to Kim’s defence, labelling the criticism as unfair.
You go girl you always have nice outfits and it look great don't listen to anybody just cuz they didn't think of it first
— UndergroundiiAM (@iimN0tMean) October 29, 2017
Because when anyone else dresses as a diff culture than their own it's considered racist and cultural appropriation.
— Ashley Donohue (@Ash_Baaash) October 29, 2017
she didn't do black face tho y'all just like being fake mad over everything
— s (@godIys) October 29, 2017
im black and i see no problem with this at all
— s (@godIys) October 29, 2017
Earlier this year, Kanye’w wife was also attacked on social media for appearing ‘darker’ than usual in an advert for her make-up line.
#KKWBEAUTY Creme Contour & Highlight Kit 6.21.17 https://t.co/PoBZ3bhjs8 pic.twitter.com/hXLa3XHuVB
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) June 14, 2017
She later apologised for the incident in an interview with The New York Times. “I would obviously never want to offend anyone. I used an amazing photographer and a team of people. I was really tan when we shot the images, and it might be that the contrast was off,” she said. “But I showed the image to many people, to many in the business. No one brought that to our attention. No one mentioned it.” She added, “Of course, I have the utmost respect for why people might feel the way they did. But we made the necessary changes to that photo and the rest of the photos. We saw the problem, and we adapted and changed right away. Definitely I have learned from it.” Sources: Twitter, The New York Times