Here's Why People Are Outraged Over Kim Kardashian's Message on the Manchester Attack

Kim Kardashian's response to the attack in Manchester put her in the center of the discussion. Here's why people are angry about it.

Kim Kardashian
Image via Getty/Alessio Botticelli
Kim Kardashian

The tragic attack at Ariana Grande's Manchester concert has provoked a strong emotional response from people around the world. It's hard not to feel anguish for the victims and their families, and that sadness has been accompanied by rage at those who haven't treated the tragedy with proper respect.

Alongside a long list of celebrities, Kim Kardashian sent a message of support and prayer to those impacted by the attack:

I can't imagine the fear and agony these parents must be going through searching for their kids 💔
I'm praying for everyone in Manchester. This is truly so senseless & heart breaking.

These both seem like pretty standard well wishes, so why are people mad? Because one of the other messages Kardashian shared on her Twitter feed—which has since been deleted—came off as a little less authentic. Fans were able to get a screenshot of the Tweet, which featured a picture of Kardashian partying with Ariana Grande:

@KimKardashian We're never going to forget when you posted an inappropriate pic and made the #Manchesterbombing all about you. (Screenshots are forever.) pic.twitter.com/lsZlptqWio

Twitter users saw this coming from a selfish place, and they called Kardashian out for making herself the center of attention (literally AND figuratively) at a time when the victims and Grande were the subject of interest.

@KimKardashian @ArianaGrande The need for you to post a pic of yourself...disgusting
Kim Kardashian really posted a pic of herself at a party with Ariana Grande as a tribute to what happened in Manchester
It's killing me because I know Kim googled "Kim Kardashian Ariana Grande" to find that picture
@colIarbone @WilliamBill2013 @jennyclairefox @KimKardashian @ArianaGrande Ariana is obviously traumatised by this, but this pic is centered and lit on Kim's face, Ariana is off to the side. Pic draws attn to kim
@KimKardashian @selenazrythm @ArianaGrande KKW this is not KUWTK,deleate this.its about Ari and Manchester,not you and kenny,and do not film this is the next episode.

On the one hand, the angry mob has a point. Kardashian posting a picture in which she is the center of attention as a response to this tragedy feeds into the worst assumptions about her personality. Though Kim has spun off her fame into a number of successful and unique ventures, the idea she cares about very little outside of herself will continue to persist with some people, regardless of what she does the rest of her life.

That reputation also causes people to overthink everything she does, however. Kardashian wasn't the only celebrity to share a photo with Grande as a show of solidarity—Miley Cyrus posted an Instagram of the duo together, and the vast majority of comments on the post are of a positive nature:

Cyrus has faced a lot of the same criticism as Kardashian over the last couple years; people believe her stunts on stage are just about shock value and fame rather than the pursuit of something meaningful or artistic. The reaction to their separate (but similar) responses is interesting commentary on how people tend to react to both women, though Cyrus took her well wishes a step further when she later dedicated her performance on The Voice to the victims.

Intent is always the hardest thing to judge as a neutral observer, and there's no way of telling whether Kardashian was actually concerned with inserting herself into the story. As always, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. Kardashian should probably think a little harder about how her actions will be perceived by the public, but there's also no need to treat every action of hers as some insidious plot to earn more attention. 

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