Kim Kardashian accused of homophobia over Tyson Beckford clap back
Kim Kardashian has elicited strong responses from social media after she insinuated that model Tyson Beckford, who had criticised a picture of her, was gay.
Beckford left a series of body-shaming comments on Tuesday on a picture of the second-oldest Kardashian sibling shared on @amirahdyme’s Instagram account. “She is not real, doctor f***ed up her right hip” he wrote in one comment. “Sorry I don’t care for it” he wrote in another.
Beckford’s remarks were picked up by @theshaderoom account, which posted a screenshot of his words, summoning a reaction from Kardashian’s husband Kanye West: “#Kanye bout to #cash #TysonBeckford #ousside #KimKardashian”
(Screenshot/Instagram)
And just like that, Kim K appeared to leave a comment. “Sis we all know why you don’t care for it” she wrote, adding the emojis of the tea cup, the frog—a reference to the popular Kermit the frog drinking tea meme—and the manicure to signify “but it’s none of my business.”
Among the more than 20,000 comments the post received, many praised Kim’s response but others condemned the homophobic undertones.
The feud continued as @theshaderoom posted a new image summarising the exchange for public consumption and debate.
“Yas Kim for the clap back,” one person commented.
“Since when is being homophobic a clap back? I guess when you can’t find anything to say you have to say something foolish,” another Instagram user wrote.
“People should just learn to keep their mouths shut,” perhaps the most insightful comment of the discussion read.
Representatives for Kardashian and Beckford have yet to comment.
Models Naomi Campbell and Tyson Beckford relax after visiting Lagos Island Maternaty ward on July 13, 2008 in Lagos, Nigeria (Dan Kitwood/Getty)
Beckford, one of fashion’s most successful black male models, began his career in 1992 and made his big break with a Ralph Lauren’s Polo Sport campaign a year later—but most people will remember him as the bare-chested biker featuring a red-headed Britney Spears in the 2009 video for the song “Toxic.” He later made another shirtless appearance in Mariah Carey’s 2015 video “Infinity.”
He has dated several models, but his current relationship status is unclear. His first and only son was born in 1998. He has participated on various charity-raising efforts, like the “Move against AIDS danceathon” in 2005 in support of the Gay Men’s Health Crisis as well as campaigns against domestic violence and raising awareness for cancer research. He also supported the Lesotho-based charity and social enterprise Kick 4 Life, which uses football as a way of helping and educating young people.
