Pick a day and at least one of the Kardashian sisters are the subject of a media storm.
This time around it’s Khloe Kardashian and the controversial diabetes drug Ozempic, a drug rumoured to be the ultimate weight loss solution for the rich.
The drug’s off-label use has become so popular that even Jimmy Kimmel mentions it in his 2023 Academy Awards opening, “When I look around at this room I can’t help but wonder, ‘Is Ozempic right for me?”‘
But before Kimmel, Khloe Kardashian was already under fire for her alleged use of the drug to acquire her rather new and sleek physique.
Khloe and the rest of the Kardashian/Jenner clan adhere to beauty standards and set them, creating a massive divide between fans and haters.
That being said, the internet lit up with theories of Khloe using Ozempic to achieve her shocking weight loss. But staying true to her bold and unapologetic self, the youngest Kardashian clapped back at the accusations and how she really found her way to strength and health.
Khloe Kardashian’s Weight Loss Journey
Even in the early days of the Kardashian’s fame, the three sisters were known for their physique. But Khloe’s appearance wasn’t fawned over as much as older sisters Kim and Kourtney’s. In fact, both online and print media were quite disparaging to Khloe at that time, even designers and photo shoots refusing to supply her with adequate dress sizes. After years of living with the ‘bigger sister’ moniker, Khloe began her own health and weight loss journey. While she is not the first celebrity to go through a radical weight transformation, she may be the most talked about.
In 2017, Khloe hosted Revenge Body with Khloe Kardashian, which started her online fitness presence. The reality star opened up about her weight loss and eating habits, even claiming on an episode of The Kardashians that she eats what she wants, she simply works out to offset it.
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It’s impossible to ignore some of the unhealthy training and food comments seen from the family as a whole, which may have ignited the Ozempic rumors, For instance, Kim Kardashian’s dramatic weight loss to fit into the Marilyn Monroe dress threw the internet into a well-deserved tizzy. Between the Kardashian’s dropping weight with help from ‘sauna suits’ and a new “Heroin Chic” body standard coming back from the 90’s supermodel era, it can be a triggering time for anyone following the body positivity movement.
But Khloe, despite her inclusive clothing brand Good American, is still under fire for perpetuating toxic online culture. A heavy-handed use of filters and photoshop have only amplified the rumors of using Ozempic drug for weight loss. But Khloe is having nothing to do with the accusations.
Khloe Kardashian Responds to Ozempic Weight Loss Rumours
The drug Ozempic went viral on TikTok earlier this year (the hashtag viewed millions of times), showcasing many ‘magical’ transformations. There were speculations that Mindy Kaling and Elon Musk, along with a slew of other celebrities looking for a quick fix, were using Ozempic to get speedy results. Khloe Kardashian was the latest to be swept up in the storm.
But while Khloe was quick to respond to the allegations she has since deleted comments surrounding her appearance.
“I openly talk about my nose job and anyone who ‘looks up’ to me must know that I’ve lost over 60 pounds over the years.” She added, “I didn’t know I had to do a running list. Either way, attacking someone is sad in my opinion.” Not only did she address the gossip, but she also brought up a great point about keyboard warriors and their patterns of attacking celebrities through their screens.
But, Khloe didn’t stop there and directly jumped on the comments alleging she uses a diabetes medication to suppress her appetite. The comment on her Instagram page lays it out, “The fact that she uses dibetic [sic] medicine to get this skinny is disturbing,” to which Khloe responded, “Let’s not discredit my years of working out. I get up 5 days a week at 6am to train. Please stop with your assumptions. I guess new year still means mean people.”
The Kardashians do get a lot of flak, with their every move, pound, and hair color being tracked. That’s undeniable, but what’s in question is whether it’s warranted. They live a public life in which everything they say or do is analyzed and used against them. In an industry where we pin women against women, it’s not a surprise that we demonize and blame famous women for their contributions to societal problems. But these problems existed long before the Kardashian’s fame, so what does that say about their presence online?
Are the Kardashians to Blame for Toxic Internet Culture?
We typically look to the Kardashian family when body standards change or new trends arise. They have their hands in the beauty, wellness, fitness, and clothing spaces and contribute and shape much of what we see online. Despite being successful businesswomen, the Kardashians are not seen as workforce leaders but as deceitful and famous-for-nothing.
While it’s impossible not to acknowledge the impact their choices have on their fans, followers, and society as a whole, is it fair to blame one family for everything wrong with what we see online? As mentioned before, the “Heroin Chic” look stems from the 90’s runway models who sported rail-thin physiques and dark makeup that mimicked under-eye bags. These trends and body standards existed before the Kardashian’s time in the spotlight, and yet we continue to condemn them for adhering to the same standards that we also follow.
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Many times, the criticism of the Kardashians comes from a lack of compassion for what internet culture has done to these women and their self-esteem. Looking at Khloe alone, her weight loss can be thought to stem from the insecurity of all the media and tabloid talk comparing her to her sisters (and never living up). They have experienced the same pressures we all feel at home, except they have an amplified platform and a slew of haters to tear them down minute by minute.
Rather than shame the Kardashians for displaying their insecurities, it sets a better example to show kindness by understanding that they are not immune to the same standards imposed on all of us non-famous folk. They make their fair share of mistakes and could be using their platforms to dismantle these systems but that takes courage they might not have at this point in time. The important thing to remember is that celebrities are people too and most likely can’t live up to the impossibly high standards of perfection we expect from them. How could any of us?
