The Kardashian-Jenner clan are always taking heat for stupid and questionable things. Social media may have a knack in exaggerating, but this time, Kylie Jenner is in the wrong. Jenner is seen posing in a wheelchair for Interview Magazine’s cover. She’s dumb if she thought that this wouldn’t raise some eyebrows. The photo went viral, and the handicapped community fired back. Ballsy or brave, Jenner’s stunt was just offensive to the disabled community and even fans.
A wheelchair is not an accessory to try on for a photo shoot. There is nothing fashionable or trendy about a disability. Unlike hats, sunglasses, or any accessory, a wheelchair is not something a disabled person can get rid of willingly whenever they feel like it. According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, over 53 million people in the U.S. alone suffer from a disability and 2.2 million are wheelchair bound.
The 18-year-old is young, edgy, and don’t even get me started on those famous lip fillers. Her “do what I want” attitude is more than infectious. It’s gained the attention from millions fans (and haters) all on social media. Alone on Instagram, she racked up 44.5 million followers. The larger-than-life teen gets off from being under the microscope for everything she does.
Jenner is interviewed as the cover story for Interview Magazine’s December/January issue. The article addresses the big questions everyone is wondering: who the real Kylie Jenner is and what makes this reality queen tick. Jenner talks about how life in the spotlight affects her. All eyes are constantly on her like she’s on display. A spectacle is an accurate way to describe Jenner in media, but for someone wheelchair-bound is a little extreme. Trust me, Kylie, people are staring for a different reason. Jenner also talks about her love of changing her look and being “whoever I want to be.” But modeling as a person in a wheelchair may not be the best look.
In the interview, Jenner says how she thinks twice before posting a picture or doing sexy photo shoots. Jenner says the reaction from her fans is a big influence in her decisions. Obviously, Jenner thought about this shot for the Interview cover photo. Maybe Jenner agreed to this pose to relate to those disabled fans in addition to her anti-bullying campaign on Instagram. Whatever Jenner’s reason may be, it’s understandable why people responded in an angry and offended way.
Erin Tatum, a real-life wheelchair user, recreated Jenner’s controversial picture wearing similar clothes on the cover and using her own wheelchair. The 24-year-old posted the picture to show a more “authentic version” of Jenner’s Interview cover. The Tumblr post currently has 130,797 shares on the site and made headlines all over the internet. Tatum poked fun at Jenner in the caption saying, “If being in a wheelchair is trendy now, I’ve apparently been a trendsetter since before Kylie was born.”
The starlet has a diverse variety of fans coming in all shapes and sizes, including fans with disabilities. These fans look up to Jenner for her confidence and style. And posing to be wheelchair-bound hurts those fans. Jenner’s consideration and understanding about the disabled community comes into question with this one picture. It looks like she does not understand the reality and seriousness of being stuck in a chair. Disabilities are a very serious matter and this photo does not show that little Kylie Jenner knows that.
