Kim Kardashian May Have Disappointed NPR Listeners, But She Will Still Speak Out On Sexual Objectification
Kim Kardashian may have not been the best celebrity guest for NPR’s Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me show. Much to the disdain of their listeners, the producers wanted to book the reality star for an interview and the “cheeky” quiz show. That won’t stop Kim from giving lectures about sexual objectification and being a better presidential candidate than, say, Donald Trump.
On the weekly show, Kim Kardashian talked about baby No. 2, her selfies, and her fashion sense. She was also quizzed on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, which angered many listeners. So many NPR listeners were angry about Kim Kardashian’s interview that they took to the news site to exclaim their outrage.
One remarked, “My first impulse after her introduction on the show was to question the meaning of life.”
“I think three horsemen of the apocalypse are now fully mounted,” another commented.
Sharonn Flaucher, a monthly donor, says she’s considering dropping her NPR membership after Kim Kardashian’s interview. She wrote, “I thought NPR had a certain class/values and it looks like we might be heading in another direction that I’m not willing to go with you.”
Some would say that the outrage was over the top. Slate’s Mike Pesca explained why he booked Kim Kardashian for his interview.
“I had, I thought, a very pleasant chat with a very famous person—a chat that totally conformed to the needs of this comedy news quiz. I thought it was a good booking. When I heard about it I said ‘great,’ because she has a persona that’s well-known, she’s ripe fodder for good comedy, and she issued a book of selfies, which is fun to talk about, and as a guest she didn’t seem particularly shy or retiring.”
So what does Pesca have to say to those outraged listeners? He assures them that the show will be back to its regular format, sans reality stars. He also added a lighthearted joke at the end.
“So to all the Monks, and all their friends Becky, and all the valued listeners that I may have offended—I’m sure that the show will return to its normal high standards. That I, as the guest host, will no longer drag it down. And so please enjoy next week’s installment, where the special guest will be Screech from Saved By the Bell.”
Kim Kardashian may have not won the hearts of NPR’s listeners, but that won’t stop her from speaking out about sexual objectification. Kardashian will be holding a special “lecture/seminar” in Oakland, California, on June 30, as part of her press tour for Selfish. The 34-year-old reality star will speak out about how she “monetized” everything from taking selfies to sexuality, according to organizers. Tickets range from $40 to $300, which will easily bring in the estimated 3,000 audience members to her lecture.
Kim may know a thing or two about sexual objectification, but would she be a good candidate for president? Russell Simmons seems to think so. The fashion designer and Def Jam co-founder took to Twitter to say that Kim would make a better candidate than Donald Trump.
Simmons wrote: “Kim K being better president then Trump? A sweet compassionate celebrity is better than a conservative angry one. No diss on either person. [sic]”
His comments just came a day after he slammed the Donald during his interview with HuffPost Live.
“I don’t like his politics. I don’t think he’d be good for America at all. He makes a lot of news. Doesn’t have as much influence as say, Kim Kardashian. She would probably be a better president, in my opinion.”
NPR listeners may feel indifferently about Kim Kardashian, but there’s no doubt that she has influence with her star power and social media presence. Would you buy tickets to see the reality star speak out about sexual objectification? Share your thoughts below in the comments section.
[Image: Larry Busacca / Getty Images]
