Why I will always stick up for Kim Kardashian

By now you’ve probably already seen the nude pic Kim Kardashian posted.

OK, maybe I should clarify. I’m not talking about last year’s Paper Magazine spread, featuring a champagne bottle popping off her famous bottom. I’m also not referring to the time when she posed in the buff for W Magazine or Playboy, for that matter. This week, Kim was at it again, posting a completely nude, full-frontal photo (save for a few strategically placed black bars) to Instagram. Scandalous? Yes. Shocking? Well, no.

Instagram/kimkardashian

This is the Kim we know and (some of us, anyway) love. She is an unapologetically self-confident, attention seeking, media-savvy celebrity and has never pretended to be anything else. I mean, she even published an entire book entirely filled with her sexiest selfies. And, since she’s been relatively quiet since the birth of her son, Saint, we were due for a dose of Kimmy’s curves.

But despite the predictability of her social media moves, the post still ruffled a few (million) feathers. Two particularly perturbed people were celebrities Bette Midler and Chloe Grace Moretz, who couldn’t help but call out Kardashian-West and vent their disappointment over the sexy snap. Midler’s sarcastic tweet pointed out just how little Kim leaves to the imagination:

Twitter/BetteMidler

Moretz, on the other hand, took a more serious approach to her Kardashian dis, posting that there are other goals that young girls should be making instead of being solely focused on the size and shape of their bodies.

Twitter/ChloeGMoretz

Midler and Moretz’s comments may be different in execution but in the end they’re saying the same thing. Each, in their own way, are calling her out for her highly sexualized image and criticizing her for perpetuating a body-focused, superficial message to young women around the world. Do they have a point? Is Kardashian’s image too sexy? Too superficial? Too…naked? Well, hang on a second…I think we’re asking the wrong questions.

ALSO SEE: Miley Cyrus throws shade at Kim Kardashian’s nude photo feuds: ‘You are are acting tacky’

One important thing to consider is: Is it reasonable for us to expect something different from Kim? After all, she has never, in her decade long headline-domination, claimed to stand for more than this exact photo. Ever since the leaked sex tape thrust her into the spotlight (no pun intended) all those years back, Kim has never attempted to deviate from her role as a sex symbol. She knows she’s hot. She knows you want to see her hot body and she’s not afraid to put it out there. And her marketing game plan is working – thanks to her image, she is one of the most successful and influential women in Hollywood right now, with a net worth of nearly $100 million, a following of nearly 63 million on Instagram and a video game that, as she pointed out in her refutes to Bette and Chloe, recently earned her an $80 million cheque. Why would she suddenly change her M.O.?

The next logical question to ask is: Should Kim strive to be a better role model by revealing less? The answer to this lies within the question of whether every celebrity with a large platform should be expected to censor themselves, physically. If so, then we are upset with and Miley and Madonna and J. Lo and Kate Hudson and Demi Lovato and Ciara, who all unapologetically show off their nearly-nude bodies on the regular. If we call out Kim, we must call out them all.

Before you write me a mean letter about how Demi Lovato is not in the same category as Kim K: I agree. But, I think that if we get all up in arms about seeing the naked bodies of sexy celebs, we have to be fair, and get upset about all of them equally. If Midler and Moretz (and everyone else) aren’t beating the doors down of every provocative persona in Hollywood, then the last question is, are they inherently guilty of slut-shaming? Clearly I’m not the first person to pose this question, as Moretz has already responded to the claim, tweeting, “There’s a huge difference in respecting the platform that you’re given as a celebrity and ‘slut shaming.’” OK sure, but again, this goes back to the question of whether every celebrity is expected to be a positive role model for young women.

ALSO SEE: Photo of Kim Kardashian leaves fans concerned

Because there’s no indication Moretz holds others to this standard, I have to say it sounds like a case of bullying to me. Why should Kim be the only one burned at the cross for owning her body? Furthermore, what is it saying to young women for Moretz to dis a fellow woman for being bold, confident and beautiful? In my opinion it is only perpetuating the cycle of girl-on-girl crime, jealousy and meanness.

Finally, for those who think that Kim’s image lacks substance, remember that many women in the world struggle to love their bodies. You can say all you want about Mrs. West, but she’s a great inspiration when it comes to learning to love yourself. Her revealing Instagram game is a fantastic reminder that you don’t have to be a size 2 to feel good about what you’ve got. She’s also proof that you can be sexy and be a good mother. You can be sexy and be a good wife. You can be sexy and be a successful business woman. Being sexy does not reduce who you are as a person.

So to Bette and Chloe – you may not want to be Kim’s friend. You may not want to follow her on social media. You may not agree with her brand or image but that doesn’t make what she’s doing wrong, bad or inferior. It makes her different. It makes her smart. And it makes her Kim.