Source: Gilbert Carrasquillo / Getty
“What her half-sister Kim Kardashian West did for booty, Jenner has done for full lips,” Forbes writes of their cover star, Kylie Jenner, who they audaciously dubbed a #SelfMadeWoman to the repulse of many. “Like Kardashian West, she has leveraged her assets to gain both fame and money,” they continue, “but while her sister is best-known for the former, Jenner has proved adept at the latter. In historic fashion.”
This is satire, right?
If we’re referring to the centuries during which white folks pillaged marginalized communities for their own benefit, then yes, one could absolutely call what Jenner has done “historic.” Meanwhile, Fenty Beauty—whose 40-shade foundation line pushed other cosmetic brands to diversify their offerings—exists. We’re just saying.
As the lovely folks at Dictionary.com wrote, “self-made means having succeeded in life unaided.” Call it shade if you want, but as acclaimed writer and cultural commentator Roxane Gay tweeted, Jenner’s success may be commendable, but it didn’t come without privilege.
“It is not shade to point out that Kylie Jenner isn’t self-made,” Gay stated. “Words have meanings and it behooves a dictionary to remind us of that.”
Couldn’t have said it better.
In Other Media News:
- Facebook Watch just added news shows to its lineup.
- Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group CEO John Amato has stepped down amid an editorial investigation.
- BBC’s addressed its gender pay gap, but 12 of their highest-paid stars are still men.
Media Studies is CASSIUS’ weekly look at news, moves, and mess-ups in the wild world we call “The Industry.” Got a tip? Email Stephanie Long: slong(at)ionedigital(dot)com.