Khloé Kardashian is starting a revolution. Over Easter weekend, all hell broke loose on Instagram when an untouched photo of the reality star was released, then immediately taken down. Gone were the pouty lips, airbrushed skin and layers of makeup. Instead we saw the Khloe we were introduced to when "Keeping up With the Kardashians" first aired back in 2007.
Alas, that was not supposed to happen.
Khloé's older sister, Kim, went to work immediately, demanding media outlets and popular Instagram accounts stop using the photo or face legal ramifications.
“The color edited photo was taken of Khloé during a private family gathering and posted to social media without permission by mistake by an assistant,” Tracy Romulus, chief marketing officer for KKW brands, told Page Six in a statement. “Khloé looks beautiful but it is within the right of the copyright owner to not want an image not intended to be published taken down.”
Today, Khloé commented on the photo in a series of Instagram shots, showing off her real body (which is fit and absolutely beautiful) and admitting that she's very much been affected by the negative comments about her appearance over the years. And....who can blame her?
"The photo that was posted this week is beautiful," Khloe wrote. "But as someone who has struggled with body image her whole life, when someone takes a photo of you that isn't flattering in bad lighting or doesn't capture you in a way it is after working so hard to get it to this point -- and then shares it to the world -- you should have every right to ask for it to not be shared -- regardless of who you are."
Khloe wrote about being called the "fat sister," the scrutiny about whether her biological dad -- who passed away from cancer in 2003 -- was actually her real dad because she looked so different from her siblings and how her weight loss journey was only a result of surgery. The impact of this and so much more, Khloe wrote, runs deep. "It's almost unbearable trying to live up to the impossible standards that the public have all set for me."
How many of us have posed for a photo, only to look at it, say "Ugh, I look disgusting. Delete it and take another," or demanded that a friend or family member not post a photo? We have all been in Khloe's shoes.
You may not be a fan of the show or like how ever-present the family is on social media. You may not agree with their life decisions. But many people do have this in common with Khloe: she shared her humanity and her struggles with the public. She shows that all the money in the world can't cure insecurity. We all want to look our best and some of us go to great lengths in order to do so. Why? Because we don't want to be attacked based on our appearance. We're damned if we do, damned if we don't.
It's pretty brave of Khloe to acknowledge the crap she's endured in the spotlight. Yeah, she chose this life and yeah, it comes with some fantastic perks. But she's human and she deserves to be given a break.