Kylie Jenner’s Instagram account gave the reality star a place to speak out in support of anti-bullying activist Lizzie Velasquez. On Friday, Kylie shared a photo of Velasquez, accompanied by a long post about the activist and bullying in her own life. Velasquez suffers from Neonatal Progeroid Syndrome, a rare condition that means her body can’t produce fat.
Simon Delott, writing for Fishwrapper , points out that in our thin-obsessed world, no one should wish to have “that problem, even as a joke.” The condition has “dramatically” affected Lizzie’s appearance so that someone thought it would be a joke to make fun of her on YouTube by posting videos calling her the “world’s ugliest woman.” Velasquez responded by becoming a motivational speaker and posting her own inspiring videos.
Bullying is never okay. Here’s how to help combat it in schools. #ImWithLizzie http://t.co/6EImcCUhij pic.twitter.com/MtsjInz1rP
— AmyPoehlerSmartGirls (@smrtgrls) September 3, 2015
Lizzie has been making waves with her own brand of beauty and she’s gathering fans. Twitter users describe her as “art” and “straight out of a painting.”
so i finally got the deets on the Lizzie Velasquez story. damn. she isn’t even ugly, she looks like art.
— mae skadoodles (@paulinemae__) September 5, 2015
i love Lizzie Velasquez not only bc she looks straight out of a painting but bc she is so strong and positive. ?
— mae skadoodles (@paulinemae__) September 5, 2015
Kylie responded to Lizzie’s struggles, saying, “I’m getting a little more personal… It is so unacceptable to treat people like this.” Lizzie told Kylie what the key messages are that she wants to communicate to people.
“Most importantly I try to convey that all you need to have is a brave heart to accomplish whatever you want to achieve. Let the negative build you up instead of knocking you down. You are enough no matter what; you were put on this earth for a reason.”
https://instagram.com/p/7OF1pPHGs_/
Kylie decided the Instagram post was a good opportunity to share something about her own experiences with bullying.
“People are so quick to say horrible things about me everyday over and over and sometimes I can’t take it. Even I at times get affected by it, I breakdown, I hide, I cry.”
Jenner said that the bullying she’s experienced has “resulted in a lot of anxiety” as her “every move has been documented for the whole world.” She went on to say that her life has “been a nightmare trying to find myself through all of this,” and that she’s “lost apart [sic] of myself.”
“I breakdown, I hide, I cry.”
Public response to Kylie getting “personal” was mixed. Some fans think she’s taking advantage of Lizzie’s predicament and turning the spotlight on herself. Fishwrapper admitted that it’s “the thought that counts,” but admonished Jenner, “please don’t make it all about you.” One Twitter user wasn’t sure if Kylie’s comparison of herself to Lizzie Velasquez was legit.
I’m not sure if Kylie’s comparison to Lizzie Velasquez is legit, but I guess I somewhat see where she’s coming from.
— Kelechi Okoro (@kelechi125) September 5, 2015
Velasquez’s story is being told in the documentary film A Brave Heart , which is being released on Sept. 25.
[Image via Michael Buckner / Getty]
