Khloé Kardashian Sparks Backlash Over Her Response to Racist Comments About Baby True
Khloé Kardashian is no stranger to online trolls who like to mommy-shame her. But now the high-profile celebrity parent is facing another kind of criticism after saying that her family doesn’t “see color” when it comes to her mixed-race child.
Kardashian’s statement was in response to racist comments left on her Instagram account regarding her five-month-old daughter True who the first-time mom shares with NBA player Tristan Thompson.
At first, the 34-year-old reality star tried to shake off the situation, responding to a Twitter follower on September 18 by writing, “Some other people are truly miserable in their lives but I truly try to stay in a place of love and peace. My baby True is that for me. I’m blocking out the white noise.”
You guys are incredible and I feel so blessed to have such great support!!! Some other people are truly miserable in their lives but I truly try to stay in a place of love and peace. My baby True is that for me. I’m blocking out the white noise.
— Khloé (@khloekardashian) September 19, 2018
She followed that on September 20 by tweeting, “Honestly people are disgusting and they are hurting themselves. For anyone to critic [sic] a baby is obviously not well.”
However, on Thursday, the Good American founder continued her thoughts with a statement that raised a few eyebrows.
When a follower tweeted the star to say that they don’t understand “how people have the energy to hate on a BABY,” Kardashian replied, “I try to put myself in their shoes & maybe they were brought up in a different type of household then I was. So instead of shaming I try to educate. In our household we do not see color. We see emotion and action. We see love. We feed off of energy.”
I try to put myself in their shoes &maybe they were brought up in a different type of household then I was. So instead of shaming I try to educate. In our household we do not see color. We see emotion and action. We see love. We feed off of energy
— Khloé (@khloekardashian) September 28, 2018
Though Kardahian’s statement was apparently well-intentioned, many of her followers were quick to point out that it is problematic to gloss over the realities of race, racism, and identity in America.
One Twitter user wrote, “To say you don’t see color means you are turning a blind eye to the blatant racism that poc…more specifically black people face DAILY! Trust me when I tell you in this world your daughter will be seen as black and you don’t even know how to prepare her for what’s to come. Smh.”
To say you don't see color means you are turning a blind eye to the blatant racism that poc…more specifically black people face DAILY! Trust me when I tell you in this world your daughter will be seen as black and you don't even know how to prepare her for what's to come. Smh
— Pooh32 (@Pooh3211) September 28, 2018
Another tweeted, “If you don’t see color then you don’t see your child. The fact is that so much of who she is and will be is wrapped up in her skin color. The world will treat her differently because of it and you have a duty to prepare her for if.”
“All that is great and all,” a third follower replied. “But you should understand the fact of not seeing color is damaging as well. Obviously all those children are mixed. Every part of them should be seen and valued.”
What do you think about Khloé’s comment that her family doesn’t see color? Tell us @BritandCo!
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation)