Kim Kardashian’s shapewear brand SKIMS is facing boycotts and backlash after announcing it will be opening fifteen stores in Israel by 2026.
Who would the Kardashians be without their controversies? That’s a rhetorical question really, but I’m sure most of us could agree on the answer.
There’s hardly a week that passes by without a new story about the family, and over the last year alone, its most famous member – Kim K of course – has made her fair share of headlines over some questionable relationships and business moves.
In January, Kim lost 250,000 followers on Instagram after posting a photo of Melania Trump in attendance at her husband’s presidential inauguration. Though the post wasn’t captioned, many fans interpreted it as a show of support for Donald Trump’s re-election as US president – though some speculated Kim might just be appreciating that hat.
In March, Kim was once again criticized for posing with a Tesla Cybertruck on Instagram. She posted the photo just days after Elon Musk was seen doing a ‘Nazi salute’ during a speech at the Trump’s 2025 inauguration, and as he had begun making enormous cuts to the US federal workforce through his role at the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Now, Kim Kardashian looks set to face widespread boycotts from even her most loyal followers. The cause is an announcement from her ultra-successful shapewear brand SKIMS, which has said it will be opening fifteen stores across Israel, despite the country’s government carrying out atrocities against Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza.
According to several reports, SKIMS signed a partnership deal with Irani Corp, an import company that manages international fashion brands. It is believed Irani Corp will be responsible for overseeing SKIMS’ expansion in the Israeli market in years to come.
In the past, Israeli customers looking to purchase SKIMS products had to order from the brand’s international website, leaving them with high shipping costs and long delivery times. Now, SKIMS clothing will be available in Factory54, an Israeli department store, allowing for in-store purchasing, local returns, and exchanges.
A spokesperson for SKIMS toldJewish News that the partnership reflects the company’s commitment to measured, sustainable global growth. However, the launch has caused quite a stir in light of the ongoing economic boycott of Israel.
The BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement is a Palestinian-led, global campaign that uses nonviolent pressure to end Israel’s ‘occupation, colonisation, and apartheid’ against Palestinians.
Drawing inspiration from the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, the BDS movement invites people all over the world to boycott companies holding strong ties and investments with Israel, as a way of removing support for the occupation’s treatment of Palestinians.
According to the United Nations, numerous human rights organisations, hundreds of legal experts, and genocide scholars, Israel has been committing genocide and war crimes against Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023.
That said, the BDS movement was founded in July 2005. A simple dive into recent history shows that Israel’s brutal and often deadly mistreatment of Palestinians stretches back well before 2023.
Kim Kardashian spoke out about Israel-Palestine in October 2023, when Israel launched its retaliation attacks on Gaza following the October 7th attacks by Hamas. Kardashian stated she was ‘praying for everyone in Israel’.
She later deleted the post and issued another statement which read: ‘I want to own up to and explain that earlier today I sent out two tweets about saying prayers for the people in Palestine and Israel and after hearing from my followers, I decided to take down the tweets because some people were offended and hurt by what I said, and for that I apologise.’
Though she hasn’t spoken out about the subject since, Kardashian has a history of showing public support for Israel. In 2015, she visited the country with her then-husband Kanye West and their daughter for a trip that included a baptism in occupied Jerusalem.
So far, the primary backlash to the SKIMS announcement has come from fans and the general public. Notable commentary has come from former adult film star Mia Khalifa, who wrote on X in a now-viral tweet, ‘Wearing sk*ms is such a litmus test bc you either gotta be bird brained or not care, but I guess those are the same thing.’
While anyone expecting the Kardashian family to exercise a strong moral compass is almost guaranteed to be let down, the move from SKIMS is still disappointing in light of what we’ve all been helplessly witnessing through our phone screens for the last two years.
Judging by the economic losses suffered by Israeli-linked brands like Starbucks and McDonald’s, it’s only a matter of time before we find out how hard SKIMS is impacted by the incoming boycott.
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Deputy Editor & Content Partnership ManagerLondon, UK
I’m Jessica (She/Her). I’m the Deputy Editor & Content Partnership Manager at Thred. Originally from the island of Bermuda, I specialise in writing about ocean health and marine conservation, but you can also find me delving into pop culture, health and wellness, plus sustainability in the beauty and fashion industries. Follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn and drop me some ideas/feedback via email.
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