NEED TO KNOW
Kim Kardashian is addressing the elephant in her closet.
In November, the actress and reality star made headlines for being pictured with what appeared to be an Hermés Birkin purse made out of elephant leather. The same accessory was featured on her drama series All’s Fair, which also contributed the backlash.
However, on an episode of the Khloé in Wonder Land podcast, released on Wednesday, Jan. 21, Kim, 45, confirmed that the bag was a fake Hermés product that she simply used as a prop for the drama series. “I brought a lot of my bags in to film All’s Fair, but then we just got a bunch of other ones that we would have and leave on set that we could leave there and grab if we ever needed one for a specific outfit,” explained the actress, who pairs the bag with a fitted all-gray outfit on the show.
Kim added that everything from the hardware to the texture of the bag proved that it was a knock-off, but nonetheless, she admitted that she wishes she was a “little bit smarter” about showcasing it — especially without sharing the backstory.
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According to PETA, Hermès made a series of bags from the skin of elephants that were “allegedly shot and killed on a safari in the 1980s.” The designs were not put on the market and remain one of the rarest pieces of Hermés history.
While the accessory choice sparked interest among fans and media, host Khloé Kardashian revealed that a famous close friend of Kim’s contacted her about the headlines. “And even Ellen Degeneres reached out to you,” said Khloé, prompting Kim to reply, “She is the reason why I went to full faux fur [Kim confirmed that she owns vintage fur items]… and I completely toned down a lot of things. It was her approach and the way that she communicated with me about it.”
Degeneres has been vocal about her campaign for anti-fur fashion and launched faux fur brand, UnHide, as a co-founder in 2019 to provide an alternative to the fashion industry and consumers.
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When Khloé asked why Kim hadn’t responded to the criticism at the time, Kim said that she was “overwhelmed,” especially with the negative reactions garnered by All’s Fair, which was executive produced by herself and a team including her mom, Kris Jenner.
“I’m a firm believer in addressing something head on and quickly,” she said, also referencing when she changed the name of SKIMS from its original name, Kimono. “Sometimes I’m like, I’m not going to give it attention because I can’t sit there all day and shut everything down. Sometimes I get annoyed enough and… sometimes you have to give a statement if something’s totally — it depends on my mood.”
Kim has flaunted her growing Hermès bag collection over the years and recently filmed a TikTok video of her six-figure haul of birthday presents, which included a the rare Birkin Shoulder Bag in red crocodile leather designed by Jean Paul Gaultier and a dark beige croc Kelly Cut clutch.
