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Just when the internet had been repaired after Kim Kardashian’s infamous bare-bottomed cover pose for Paper magazine, Pippa Middleton has weighed in with her opinion on the matter. (And thank goodness for that. We barely know what to make of the pressing issues of the day without Pip to guide us.)
In an article for tomorrow’s Spectactor, she writes ‘No year is complete without a bottom story, and the Rear of 2014 award undoubtedly goes to Kim Kardashian.’ It’s clearly a subject Pippa feels qualified to address, continuing: ‘I must say that mine — though it has enjoyed fleeting fame — is not comparable’ (thus immediately inviting comparison, but no matter).
What was more surprising was the criticism that followed: ‘The Kim butt story did make me pause. What is it with this American booty culture? It seems to me to be a form of obsession. Kim’s aim, apparently, was to break the internet, but I’m not sure she’s going the right way about it.’
Now, we’re not saying there isn’t an ongoing fixation with female celebrities’ behinds – in fact, with any number of female celebrities’ body parts. And there’s no doubt a misogynist tone to this constant objectification of women: it’s a depressing fact that a career can be built on nothing more than a shapely bum. But is it really the place of someone who themselves is mainly known for exactly that reason to start pointing the finger? Rather than criticising Kim, who has capitalised on the interest in her body (not unlike others, you might argue), wouldn't it be more constructive to criticise the culture that has created such a fascination in the first place?
We’ll let you decide.
Paper Magazine
