DIY VIRAL
As you've probably heard by now, Southern California has been ravaged by some of the most devastating wildfires in the region's history.
Thousands of homes have been destroyed and at least ten people have died as firefighters continue to work around the clock to try to contain this historic disaster.
Countless celebrities were forced to evacuate as fires spread through some of the region's most famous neighborhoods.
Kardashians forced to evacuate amid Kenneth fire
Among the stars forced to abandon their multimillion-dollar homes are members of the Kardashian family, who fled Calabasas Thursday night before the Kenneth Fire worsened.
According to a new report from TMZKim Kardashian and her entire family followed mandatory evacuation orders just before flames quickly spread across 1,000 acres in a matter of hours.
The Kardashians have also donated hundreds of meals to local firefighters. So they are clearly grateful to the people who risk their lives to keep them safe.
Why, then, is Kim being criticized on social media and accused of turning a blind eye to the devastation of her hometown?
Kim lives to sell
As you probably know, Kim is a billionaire thanks in large part to her Skims fashion line.
She tirelessly promotes the brand on social media and, of course, she works with a team of professionals to spread the word about sales and new products.
So it's no surprise that the brand has continued to post its latest offerings on Instagram.
But for reasons that aren't entirely clear, many commentators are exasperated by this display of uninterrupted trade.
“WINTER SALES START TOMORROW,” reads a recent article on the Skims page.
“Set your alarm to shop the first major event of the year with up to 50% off your favorite SKIMS collections.”
The ad sparked surprising outrage in the comments.
Kim faces criticism
“How about we do a post about the resources happening in LA and what Kim and Skims are doing to help!!” one person commented, according to Page six.
“Still trying to make money from people during the horrible fires,” seethed a second.
“Publish an article about fires you are ruining the brand,” wrote a third.
“So, tone deaf, post this,” responded a fourth.
“@skims who cares about a stupid sale. Take the money and underwear and bring them to people who need help in Los Angeles,” a fifth added.
Another critic took the opportunity to praise Khloe Kardashian for posting resources and information about her fires.
“WHAT ABOUT CALIFORNIA? All you care about is yourself and money! Khloe is the REALEST, that’s why I love her SM,” this person wrote.
Luckily, Kim had some defenders, many of whom pointed out that she definitely didn't schedule the post herself. Many also noted that she is a mother of four and is in the throes of a potentially life-changing crisis.
“She's also in the middle of a traumatic event, have some empathy,” one commenter wrote.
“Shut up, it’s a business.” The show will continue. Kim is grieving and praying for his city, like everyone else,” echoed a second user.
Because we live in the age of discourse, in some weeks there will certainly be plenty of debate about which celebrity Angelenos had the best and worst response to the fires.
But perhaps we should all pause, take a breath, and remember that these are all human beings facing an unimaginable catastrophe.
DIY VIRAL
