Reality TV star and businesswoman Kim Kardashian has sparked controversy with her latest marketing campaign for her SKIMS shapewear line. The campaign, which promotes a new “nipple bra,” has been criticized by environmental activists for its flippant approach to the climate crisis.
Kardashian jokes about melting glaciers and rising sea levels in a bra advertisement, implying that her product can make people “look cold” even while the earth warms. Many people are incensed by Kardashian’s tone-deaf approach, as they see it as trivializing a serious issue that is already having a catastrophic effect on millions of people worldwide.
While SKIMS asserts that 10% of the bra’s proceeds will be donated to 1% For the Planet, International environmental group Greenpeace has been especially critical of the ad. Greenpeace accused Kardashian of “greenwashing” in a social media post. “Greenwashing” is the phrase for selling things as ecologically beneficial when they are not. Kardashian’s use of climate change as a joke, according to the group, is “a mockery of an issue that is devastating millions of lives.”
The organization called for global icons like Kardashian to genuinely champion the fight against climate change, expressing disappointment in the use of a serious issue for promotional purposes. The controversy highlights the delicate balance between marketing and addressing crucial global challenges, urging influencers to approach sensitive topics responsibly.
