Uh oh, KoKo! She’s no stranger to controversy, but Khloe Kardashian’s latest Instagram image has whipped up a storm of criticism. The reality star was snapped posing next to a “Fidel” sign on Wednesday, while holidaying in Havana, Cuba.
And her fans and followers are not happy. Immediately after the photo was posted, people rushed to express their outrage and disappointment, feeling the 31-year-old was glorifying a horrible dictator.
In the image, Khloe appears in a sultry pose, decked out in a tight blush coloured dress, topped with a silver wrap and a panama-style hat. She appears just below an inscribed quote by Fidel Castro, the former dictator of Cuba.
The image, probably intended to be arty and edgy, was very swiftly decried by her fans and critics alike.
The offending image of Khloe that has fans fuming.
“You would think someone so rich could use it to her advantage and educate herself, not just go to a country and offend millions,” noted @xbiancasx.
“So stupid,” said @j0eangel0, “supporting a dictator and a communist who’s oppressed his people for decades. But to her it’s a photo op.”
Some tried to reach out to the star, relating the actions of the Keeping Up With The Kardashians’ star to an issue close to her heart and heritage. “As upset as you were learning about the Armenian genocide is how upset people feel about Fidel,” says @mffallaw.
See Khloe getting emotional while laying flowers at the Armenian Genocide Memorial. Post continues below
Others couldn’t believe that the star still hadn’t removed the photo, even after the deluge of negative comments. “Seriously, please remove this picture,” said @efrainlizette. “I really used to like you and your show but this is a deal-breaker for me. For all your Cuban followers.”
For one of her fans, the issue was a hear-tbreakingly personal one. “Truly disgraceful,” @sassyandsimple said. “We left in 1967 with only the clothes on our back. My mom was pregnant with my sister and I was one-year-old. My grandfather was tortured by Fidel. Shame on yourself!”
But not everyone jumped straight to condemnation. Some of Khloe’s followers were torn. “Love you Koko, but as a Latina I can honestly tell you this is not right,” said @monducsis. “The history of that country has been so painful.”
Kourtney and Khloe in Cuba before the storm of controversy hit.
And some fans were even quick to jump to her defence. “Why are you even following her if you hate her so much?” asked @theimportanceofbeingernest. “She took a photo on the stairs and that was in the background. It’s there, she’s there enjoying herself. Calm yourselves. You do you, Khloe.”
“You look beautiful,” agreed @jojorval. “Those throwing hate are just jealous.”
Khloe posted this photo of Havana, with a caption defending her actions.
But despite all the craziness, Khloe refused to take the image down, defending her cultural experience in a following post.
She said her ultimate goal while in the country was to “expand my mind. Now it has been filled with new memories and knowledge of culture, food, traditions, daily life… It will never go back to yesterday’s dimensions. I’m so blessed to be able to appreciate another’s culture.”
We’re sure there will be more than a few of Khloe’s fans who are questioning her definition of “appreciation” right about now.
