(Photo by Disney/Disney via Getty Images)
Kim Kardashian found herself at the center of controversy after she was photographed carrying a Birkin bag that appeared to be made from elephant skin. The images quickly sparked backlash online, with animal rights advocates condemning the accessory and raising concerns about its connection to animal cruelty.
The bag, believed by some to be a rare Hermès piece, drew particularly strong reactions given the brand’s history and the broader ethical debate around exotic skins in fashion. At the time, Kardashian chose not to publicly address the criticism.
According to her, that silence was shaped by two major factors. She felt overwhelmed by the wave of negative responses and was already facing scrutiny over her show, All’s Fair. Looking back, however, she admits that staying quiet was a mistake and that she regrets not responding sooner to clarify the situation.
In a recent conversation with her sister Khloé on the Wonder Land podcast, Kardashian opened up about what actually happened with the controversial bag. She explained that many of the items used during filming for All’s Fair were not necessarily pulled from her personal collection but were instead brought in as wardrobe props.
“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,” she said. The bag that caused the uproar, she confirmed, was a prop and not an authentic piece from her own wardrobe.
In fact, Kardashian clarified that it was not real at all. “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.” Her explanation underscores that the bag was used for styling purposes and was never intended to be interpreted as a statement piece or a reflection of her personal choices.
The controversy was heightened by longstanding concerns around Hermès and the use of exotic materials. PETA, the animal rights organization, has previously claimed that the luxury brand once produced bags from elephant skins that were “allegedly shot and killed on a safari in the 1980s.”
That history added fuel to the criticism, with many assuming Kardashian’s bag was part of that troubling legacy. While Kardashian has often been at the center of public debates, this incident appears to have struck a different chord. Her admission that she wishes she had spoken up sooner suggests a growing awareness of how quickly narratives can spiral online when left unaddressed.
By clarifying that the bag was fake and used as a prop, she is attempting to correct the record and ease some of the concerns that initially sparked outrage. The episode serves as yet another reminder of how closely her every move is watched and how even a single accessory can ignite a global conversation.
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