NUT TO KARDASHIAN: I’LL KILL YOU: Kim Kardashian reportedly filed a police report after a teen called her a “n****r lover” and said “I will kill you, slut” during an altercation outside of a Beverly Hills medical building. As the reality-TV star tried to enter the building, the 18-year-old initially appeared to be trying to help her get past photographers, but then began using racial and homophobic epithets. Kardashian then called fiancé, Kanye West, who allegedly punched the man. West is now a subject of a criminal battery investigation, in addition to charges he faces for an earlier altercation at Los Angeles International Airport.
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In sociology ethnic and racial slurs are defined as “ethnophaulisms”. Utilizing the sociological term ethnophaulism and the ideology of “nation building”, what advice would you give to Kim Kardashian and Kanye West regarding their dating and mating across cultural lines in the 21st century? (Do not be influenced by the media’s use of the label “nut”.)
As a celebrity couple, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West face the same issues that the young adults in the paper “A Qualitative Study of Interracial Dating Among College Students;” however, instead of having to address the opinions of family, friends, and the occasional stranger, Kardashian and West have to deal with the judgements of a very large amount of strangers. Some of these strangers or “fans” find it easy to dehumanize celebrities, which makes it, in their eyes, alright to be inconsiderate. In this case, a teen yelled ethnophaulisms at Kim Kardashian, which were directed at her fiancé of African descent. It is evident that this teen is unaccepting of biracial relationships, and embraces the ideas around nation building; in this case, the teen plausibly believes that Kim Kardashian should marry a white man to essentially continue to build a white nation. This is interesting to me, as Kim Kardashian is biracial herself.
ReplyDeleteAlthough this incident is disturbing and unfortunate, I believe that Kardashian and especially West could have conducted themselves better. By making the decision to be a celebrity, and have the world’s eyes on you, you also unavoidably allow them into a piece of your life. Although I have never been in a situation like this, I imagine it is extremely difficult to hear someone you’ve never met insult someone you love. However, if they had somehow been able to ignore this stranger and not allow the situation to turn into alleged violence, it would have sent a strong message that both of them are confident in their biracial relationship, and that there is nothing to defend in their engagement. It is important that a celebrity be strong and smart enough to know that there are intolerant people in the world, and to set an example by not allowing these people to provoke them to behave in a way that is less than admirable.
I would like to preface my response with a disclaimer: I am an absolute fanatic when it comes to Kanye West. I legitimately consider Mr. West to be a modern superhero; my opinion on this matter may be biased.
ReplyDeleteEver since Kim Kardashian and Kanye West announced their relationship to the media, the general public has regarded the couple with disdain. Many still doubt the legitimacy and depth of the "Kimye" relationship, as Kim came into it with the reputation of being a "trophy wife" simply due to the fact that she had a number of prior relationships with wealthy men (mainly professional athletes). In addition, Kanye's artistic ferventness and creative drive are widely misinterpreted; many observe his passion and negatively judge his ensuing actions as based upon his "inflated ego" and “overdramatization of rich people problems”. Both individuals in the “Kimye” relationship are thus widely satirized and scorned because of the captious nature of media’s take on celebrity.
I believe much of the criticism of Kanye West and Kim Kardashian as a couple stems from their public image as individuals. It follows that most people find issues with the individuals themselves rather than issues with their relationship, much less the fact that it is a multiracial one. However, I do believe this particular case of the 18 year old using ethnophaulisms against Kanye West speaks more about the nation-building motivations of just one individual with extreme ideals. But even this fuels my inner skeptic; recently many paparazzi have been attempting to provoke and incense Kanye West in hopes that he’ll lash out. I believe the true motivations of this particular verbal attack were similar. The 18 year old filed a lawsuit on the same day of Kanye’s physical attack (according to http://gawker.com/kanye-west-reportedly-attacks-18-year-old-at-chiropract-1500565680); his promptness in doing so seem to elucidate, at least in my opinion, his true intentions. In other words, the 18 year old used ethnophaulisms on Kim Kardashian in order to bring out Kanye West, and invited the physical assault so that he could sue for money.
Here are articles detailing other paparazzi taking advantage of Kanye’s hair-trigger temper:
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/kanye-west-pleads-not-guilty-in-battery-case-20131107
http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/13/showbiz/kanye-west-battery-suspect
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/kanye-wests-paparazzi-fight-lax-lead-criminal-charges-19733201
http://blog.sfgate.com/dailydish/2013/05/11/kanye-west-hits-head-on-street-sign/
On a theoretical level (in order to better address the prompt), I would remind Kanye West and Kim Kardashian that their happiness is paramount to any obstacle, and that the only thing that should matter to them in life is raising their baby daughter North with all the love they can give.
First off, I would like to congratulate Kanye West and Kim Kardashian because they are taking a large step towards fixing the stereotypes and judgment associated with dating and mating across cultural lines. At the same time, they should be aware that because what they are trying may sound outlandish to some, they should be wary of actions similar to those taken by the teen who slandered Kim Kardashian with ethnophaulism. I am sure that this is not the first time that the couple has faced similar situations where a third party voices disagreement with their life choices. The main thing to keep in mind with any relationship is the ultimate goal: happiness. Each and every relationship will see setbacks (some more than others), but the gist of it is that the end product, the joy, is what makes the struggle valuable.
ReplyDeleteAlthough his reaction may seem warranted (to some), in retrospect, Kanye should have maintained more self-control. His actions as a celebrity are criticized by society as a whole and are used to generalize entire demographics. Many people see Kanye as a role model and an icon, but his resort to violence smudges interracial dating because of his significant role in American culture. By taking a violent approach to a racial divide, he is adding fire to fire and not addressing the problems from its core: the fundamental upbringing of the modern generation. On the other hand, letting the teen go unpunished for his vulgarity and crude comments cannot be condoned. West felt that his loved one was being threatened and at that point, it would have been preferred to have security handle the situation, but Kanye took the step that nobody wanted to take and served his interpretation of “justice.”
I realize that such comments, especially those containing ethnophaulisms, can be really hurtful, but some people are not fully aware of how ignorant they can be. Some are raised, knowingly or unknowingly, in support of “nation building,” the idea of preserving one’s race by dating and mating within one’s ethnic group. As a consequence of their upbringing, they are not very empathetic when it comes to the idea of interracial dating. With this in mind, I would tell Kim Kardashian and Kanye West that whatever anyone else says has no effect on their love—it cannot invalidate or tarnish their relationship. What exists between the two of them is entirely their own. Furthermore, it says nothing about Kim and Kanye as two individual people. That teenager probably saw nothing except the difference in color between Kim and Kanye’s skin, and color does not define any person.
ReplyDeleteI think Kim’s decision to file a police report was a good one, because that teenager needs to understand that directing ethnophaulisms at others is ignorant and wrong. However, I would advise Kanye not to resort to violence. I understand how hard it is to contain your anger, but violence only begets more violence and does nothing to solve the root of the problem, which is ignorance. What a stranger has to say about Kim and Kanye has no reflection on their character, but their response to the stranger’s ignorance does. I can imagine that being a celebrity is stressful enough, considering the constant surveillance by the ever watchful public eye, but this was the opportunity to make a statement and get justice for other interracial couples as well. What Kim and Kanye could do, since they are such a famous interracial couple, is promote love and acceptance and support other interracial couples—find a positive outlet for all this negativity. If they got to meet other couples who are going through exactly what they are, they might come to learn a thing or two and find a strong support system in the interracial dating community. Because of their affluence, interracial dating might become a more prominent topic nationally or even globally, and by raising awareness to it, people can become better educated and maybe rethink some of their very basic notions of various ethnic groups.
As we know, few citizens have their careers, and often their personal lives, publicized as thoroughly and widely as celebrities do. Therefore, the existence of celebrities’ interracial relationships, such as that between Kim and Kanye, are brought to the attention of many citizens of various ages, backgrounds, and viewpoints. I would advise Kim and Kanye to be aware of their status as a couple dating across racial and cultural lines and be prepared for the different responses that people may have. The teenager who bombarded Kim with ethnophaulisms targeted at her relationship with Kanye is likely expressing racism. This teenager may also be expressing agreement with the concept of nation building, which is the idea that people should date and mate within their own race/culture. I would advise Kim and Kanye to be aware of such viewpoints and respond maturely and responsibly when confronted with some people’s objections to their future marriage. I can understand that Kim and Kanye likely experienced frustration and anger in response to this teenager’s disrespectful behavior. I think it would benefit Kanye to keep in mind that, though he may be feeling angry/violent, the issue isn’t going to be helped by physically harming someone who is acting disrespectfully and likely holds different views about interracial dating and mating. As celebrities, Kim and Kanye are ridiculed by some, but they also have the opportunity to exemplify interracial dating and help change some citizens’ ideas about dating across various lines. I would advise Kim and Kanye to keep in mind the people who support and may become supporters of interracial relationships in order to respond with patience to non-supporters.
ReplyDeleteI would like to preface this by saying I usually have little to no sympathy for the scrutiny that Kim Kardashian and Kanye West face. I am generally of the belief that celebrities have little room to complain about judgement they receive from the public as they voluntarily place themselves in the limelight. I also feel that many of the insults they receive are surface insults and generally pertain to things like Kim’s weight and Kanye’s egoism. I am, however, outraged by the ethnophaulisms shouted to Kim Kardashian about her fiance. I feel as though she and Kanye had every right to be offended, as that kind of slander is more than just surface insults.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that every person is entitled to their own opinions on how to live their lives, but I think it is unacceptable to punish other people for not conforming to those morals. While I personally do not believe in the idea of “nation building” I understand that some people do, and I would not ridicule them for choosing to live their life that way. By that logic, I would expect the opposite to be true as well. People who support nation building in their own lives have no right to impose that belief on other couples like Kim and Kanye, especially in such hurtful ways as the use of ethnophaulisms.
That being said, my advice to Kim and Kanye is to simply ignore those inevitable comments. Responding violently only gives those naysayers more reason to oppose their life choices. In my own life, what matters most when choosing a partner is my personal happiness, the approval of my friends and family and then much farther down on the list are the opinions of strangers. With that being said, I would also advise “Kimye” to recognize their relationship as biracial however not to use the term biracial to define their relationship. Instead I would hope that they can define their relationship as a loving union between two elated parents and their adoring, supportive families. Additionally I would advise them against viewing their relationship as setting an example for future generations and paving the way for societal acceptance of interracial dating. While I think the “Kimye” relationship may potentially have this power, if Kanye’s egoism gets ahold of this, it may have the opposite power.
As major role models and public figures that are dating interracially, I believe that Kim and Kanye could strive to better react to these negative situations to contribute to a positive impact on interracial dating acceptance. This plea does not call for inaction to this teen’s ethnophaulisms, but rather begs for thoughtful dialog with this teen to increase public acceptance of concepts such as interracial dating. Perhaps teaching the man compassion and understanding is more powerful than punching the man and getting charged for criminal battery investigation.
ReplyDeleteIt is especially difficult for celebrity couples to date interracially because of the large amounts of attention they receive from paparazzi and media tabloids. To begin with, their professional lives are scrutinized by large numbers of people across the country. On top of this, the personal lives of celebrities have been made an object of public interest, where magazines feel they have the right to exploit the private details of the rich and famous just to make a catchy headliner. Because of this cultural fascination with how celebrities live, celebrities are especially vulnerable to public commentary about interracial relationships, whether that be support or disdain for the crossing of cultures. While it surprises me that a person tried to get close to Kim Kardashian by pretending to help her move through a crowd, I am less surprised that they felt the need to express their ethnophaulic opinions. Kim Kardashian and Kanye West must first understand the context of their relationship in the society we live in before they can begin to deal with the way they were treated. Because the lives of celebrities are so largely public, people who are against interracial couples may feel offended by how “in your face” they perceive an interracial celebrity couple to act, and therefore believe that they must strike back as to show that this lifestyle should not be accepted. Another element that can come into play is the idea of nation building, and that, if a high profile couple is seen as dating across cultures, the blending of cultural lines will begin to be accepted rather than “maintained” in future generations. Resistance to interracial couples is a form of social segregation, which is unfortunate to see still exists as we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. If Kanye and Kim can understand how their interracial relationship is considered provoking because of how it contradicts these social beliefs, they can begin to see the importance of gaining attention to spark conversation and create examples for others to prove that dating across cultures is not just acceptable, but should be celebrated. This couple should strive to prove that their relationship is not an anomaly but a reality for many couples, and therefore give light to this lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the 21st century has brought forth many social changes and advancements, there are still people who feel the need to use ethnophaulisms, such as the man getting upset with Kim Kardashian. I would advice the couple to ignore such slurs, and instead be role models for other couples interracially dating who are facing the same challenge. Since the couple is often in the media limelight, they can use this platform to be catalysts for change. By showing that they are above these slurs, it will help other people learn to be above them as well. On the contrary, since Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are celebrities, they have to accept that a lot of attention coming there way will be both positive and negative and it is up to them to decide how to react- whether it be passive or aggressive, there actions will influence how other people perceive them.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to having an interracial relationship in 21st century America, I think it is important for Kim and Kanye to acknowledge that there are people who strongly disapprove of their relationship and hostility from opponents is a possible reality that comes with dating interracially. In many cases people who are uncomfortable with interracial couples attempt to intimidate these couples using ethnophaulisms or racial slurs as was the case with the teen who attacked Kim Kardashian.Opposition to interracial dating and mating might be due to individual prejudice and racism but in other cases, the idea of "Nation Building" is the source of an opponent's qualms with interracial dating and mating. The idea that people of a certain race are to marry and date within their own racial category in order to procreate and build a nation, known as "Nation Building" discourages interracial dating. With this in mind, I would advise Kim and Kanye to learn how to deal with opposition using a "pick your battles" approach where they don't necessarily respond to every outburst of opposition from strangers or people they know but rather learn to strategically choose which to respond to and which to ignore. I also advise that they work to cultivate their relationship to a stronger level so that they will be able to depend on each other for moral and emotional support if either of them comes across negativity regarding the nature in their relationship in the future.
ReplyDeleteCelebrity dating these days often commands a large media presence. Because of the tendency of media outlets to broadcast private relationships to the rest of the world, the intimate lives of celebrities often turn partly public. This is amplified when you are talking about two people with rather massive media prominence in their daily lives. Despite some progress toward a more accepting society, interracial dating is still frowned upon by many. Kim and Kanye being so exposed through media makes them an easy target for those who are not accepting of interracial dating. To those who support nation building, seeing an interracial relationship broadcasted to the whole world may be threatening to their ideals and it is possible that such exposure may promote more interracial dating. For this reason, it is apparent why some people may be spiteful toward Kim and Kanye. Despite this, the use of ethnophaulisms is never acceptable and I cannot say I am upset with Kanye's use of violence. I do not think violence is the best response to an ethnophaulism, but what was yelled at Kim is appalling, and I don't think I could safely say I would not do the same thing as Kanye if faced with that situation. The advice I would give to this couple is to keep on doing what they are doing. If they don't want harsh words and ethnophaulisms to be directed at them, try and keep their private lives more private. If they do not mind the mean actions of others, then don't change what they are doing, but be careful about violence as a response.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I feel that we as a nation have made a lot of progress in the arena of interracial dating, this case proves that there is still important progress to be made. I find it appalling that a young man would resort to using ethnophalisms simply to gain attention or obtain money from a lawsuit. In fact, based on the article's assertion that the man was yelling "homophobic epithets" in addition to racial slurs, I think it is reasonable to conclude that he really didn't care much at all about Kim's relationship with Kanye and was just looking to cause trouble.
ReplyDeleteAs to the notion of nation-building, I don't think this particular mindset applies to this instance. Given that Kim is of Armenian descent, even a relationship with a "white" person could be considered biracial. The man who accosted her did not seem to understand this concept, which is why I think it is extremely likely he was just an attention-seeker.
That said, I feel that Kanye's response was extremely overblown. Having insults shouted at you is by no means fun, but I don't think it justifies violence. Kim's choice to file a police report later was the right one, as it is a legal and entirely appropriate way to deal with such people. In the future, I would advise them both to simply ignore those who don't approve of their relationship, as there is no reason those people should get a say in any couple's happiness. I believe that our country will become more and more accepting of interracial dating, it just needs to be given time.
Dear Kim and Kanye,
ReplyDeleteEveryone should have the right to date who they want and fall in love with whoever they want. Do not let ethnophaulisms, or racial slurs, deter you from being happy. America is still full of people who believe in the traditional idea of nation building, dating and mating within one’s own race to unify and further that race. As two high profile celebrities in a high profile relationship, there will be plenty of attention, both positive and negative, focused on both of you. Criticism is impossible to avoid in such a bright spotlight and you must control yourselves better. If you two are truly happy, it shouldn’t matter what young, ignorant people say. Both of you are part of the human race and should not feel ashamed of dating each other. People, like the teen who insulted Kim, will eventually come to understand that interracial dating is not bad, that people have the right to love who they love.
(Jennifer Lai's post)
ReplyDeleteEthnophaulisms are simply a means of trash talk implemented by those who still strongly believe in nation building and segregating the fusion between multi-ethnic couples. Honestly, my advice to both of them is to disregard the derogatory comments regarding their race in relation to their relationship and to continue pursuing their relationship as their decision should not affect total strangers and other people’s idea of nation building should have no impact on their personal relationship. Especially for the 21st century this should be something that people don’t take very seriously because it is now so common to see multi-ethnic couples.
In addition, I think that what Kanye did was not the right course of action because that is exactly what the perpetrator wanted to elicit from. Kanye should have instead verbally confronted the situation or instead just ignored it because honestly, punching the man drew attention to the situation and essentially highlighted the fact that he acknowledged that there was something off about interracial dating.
The situation described is one that is representative of many that occur in society, even today. Based on my current knowledge of interracial dating, I would advise Kim and Kanye that though these ethnophaulisms may be difficult to ignore, in the larger scope of things, these comments are completely trivial and not worth getting upset over. These ethnophaulisms are coming from an 18-year old teenager who has no knowledge of the relationship between Kim and Kanye, so why should this stranger’s opinion matter? This also relates to the study we discussed last week in class, as many of the interviewees mentioned that the negative opinions of strangers can be simply ignored because they are not significant.
ReplyDeleteBeing in an interracial relationship is difficult, and it is even more so because they are a celebrity couple and are constantly being critiqued by media, their “fans”, and society as a whole. There will always be people that disapprove, and quite sadly, this is inevitable as it is the nature of how people are. However, this does not mean that Kim and Kanye cannot be happy together, and they definitely should not allow these ethnophaulisms to impact the happiness of their relationship. I would also mention that though I understand the idea of nation building and its importance to others, I believe diversity and interracial dating/marriage is just as beautiful. Because Kim and Kanye are a celebrity couple, by being together and defying the status quo, they are also setting an example for the rest of society that biracial couples can be happy and successful. More importantly, they are demonstrating that it is okay to love who you love, regardless of their ethnicity, and society has no right to define the love between two people. After all, love is between two people… not two people and society. As for Kanye, I would note that violence sets a bad example and clearly, has only escalated the issue for himself, and I would advise Kim to be more cautious and take protective measures in the future because of the threats she received.