Is the Kardashians’ Attempt to Be Part of the Solution Really a Problem?

The Kardashians are famous for being controversial– in fact, they are fundamentally controversial for being famous. Thus, when Kim and Khloe Kardashian (who are of Armenian descent), joined by Kanye West, visited Armenia in 2015, as the hundredth anniversary of the Armenian Genocide approached, many people questioned their relevance and intent.

Unsurprisingly, the Kardashians’ visit to Armenia made the news. Nonetheless, different articles, though most made the Kardashians’ purpose of visiting clear, instinctively shifted their concentrations at points. For example, even an apparently focused ABC News article with the headline “Kardashians Visit Armenia, Call for Genocide Recognition” supplements its explanation of the Kardashians’ meeting with Armenia’s prime minister with a description of their fashion choices: “The sisters also met with Armenia’s prime minister, Hovik Abrahamyan, wearing what seemed like coordinated suede leather jackets, a casual look that clashed with the officials’ staid black-and-gray suits” (Source 2). Further, in another article, Dr. Bryce Evans clarifies a possible cause behind some of the attention brought to these seemingly irrelevant observations by interpreting that “Kardashian, looking resplendent in a red jumpsuit, certainly seemed to add to the noticeable divide between ‘Westerners’ and locals in Yerevan that day” (Source 5).

Though this detail about the Kardashians’ fashion choices can easily be viewed as an insignificant detail, it illustrates the vast potential for celebrities to inherently create extra controversy, though many times it may appear to be random and relatively inconsequential, when trying to take a stand and get involved in much larger controversies. Hence, the question remains: Is celebrity advocacy worth the potential for celebrities to overshadow the important issues for which they intend to advocate, by inadvertently shifting attention to themselves and sometimes creating additional, unnecessary controversy?

The public’s fascination with celebrities can bring widespread attention to crucial global issues as well as social justice causes, but it can also bring attention to distractions. Celebrities are still people and have the ability to voice their opinions; yet, the very reason their opinions tend to carry more value in society and have more potential to make significant changes–fame and the influence of famous people on the public–is the same reason their choices to get involved in serious issues can also sometimes engender potentially dangerous distractions. In this case, another distraction was Kanye West’s decision to put on a spontaneous free concert, during which he ultimately caused chaos by deciding to jump into a lake, leading many fans to do the same and the Armenian police to have to intervene and shut down the performance.

During their trip to Armenia, the Kardashians seemed out of place and superficial to some (considering their entourage and general reality TV and publicity-related motives). However, many people feel that they used their status to bring attention to a very important cause. The Kardashians’ actions appeared to prove that their stated intent of bringing awareness to the Armenian Genocide was genuine– they visited the genocide museum, paid respects at the Dzidzernagapert Armenian Genocide memorial, and met with the prime minister. Despite the controversy that tends to accompany the Kardashians, their experiences in Armenia seemed, for the most part, to be regarded positively, especially among many people in the Armenian community. Elizabeth Chouldjian, the Armenian National Committee of America’s communications director, stated that “The Kardashian family trip to Armenia has helped shine a global spotlight on Armenia and the Armenian Genocide -- sharing the historical facts and the need for justice for that crime with millions” and referred to the family as having “helped strike a powerful blow at Turkey’s campaign of genocide denial” (Source 2). Dr. Bryce Evans also recalls a conversation he had with one Armenian man, who reaffirmed that the Kardashians’ visit to Armenia truly had a positive impact, claiming, “Kim Kardashian has done more than any political or religious leader to highlight the Armenian genocide” (Source 5). Allegedly, Kanye West was even referred to as “our nation’s son-in-law” on Armenian television, clearly considering his concert a favorable surprise, according to ABC News journalist Ali Weinberg (Source 2). Additionally, since the Kardashians’ 2015 visit to Armenia, Kim Kardashian has continued to advocate for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, publishing an open letter in The New York Times in 2016 (Source 1) and using social media to spread awareness and also urge the US government to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide (Source 3).

It can sometimes be confusing and even frustrating or disheartening–particularly for those already aware of the problem (before any celebrity involvement)–when celebrities who are almost invariably not regarded seriously become some of the faces associated with something very serious. The Armenian Genocide is extremely serious and should always be regarded most solemnly, with the utmost respect for the 1.5 million Armenians whose lives were horrifically taken as well as the many more who were forced to experience or affected by the atrocity that took place. For that reason, the fact that the Kardashians have become some people’s first and main association with it is controversial. However, despite much of their fame being rooted in many shallow and lighthearted matters, the Kardashians are more powerful than many people would like to admit. The fact that some people may see the involvement of these particular influential people as facetious is far less dangerous than it would have been for all people to see the silence of people with the chance to make a difference as an acceptance of injustice.

1. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/kim-kardashian-armenian-genocide-denial-new-york-times-wall-street-journal-advert-a7317826.html
2. https://abcnews.go.com/International/kardashians-visit-armenia-call-genocide-recognition/story?id=30288521
3. https://www.indy100.com/article/kim-kardashian-just-called-on-trump-to-recognise-the-armenian-genocide-tweet-viral-8321506
4. https://www.thejournal.ie/readme/armenia-genocide-kim-kardashian-2064906-Apr2015/
5. http://time.com/3818972/kanye-west-yerevan-armenia-concert-swan-lake-shut-down/