Reality star and business mogul Kim Kardashian has addressed the backlash she faced last November after being seen carrying what appeared to be an elephant-skin Birkin bag, an incident that sparked criticism from animal rights activists.
At the time, the sighting prompted an outcry on social media, with campaigners claiming the bag—historically produced by Hermès—was linked to animal cruelty. Kardashian initially remained silent amid mounting criticism, a decision she now says she regrets.
Kardashian Says She Should Have Responded Earlier
Speaking on the Wonder Land podcast with her sister Khloé Kardashian, the Skims founder explained that she felt overwhelmed by the negative reaction and was simultaneously facing scrutiny over her television project All’s Fair.
Looking back, Kardashian admitted she should have addressed the controversy sooner.
Bag Was a Fake Used as a TV Prop
Kardashian clarified during the podcast that the controversial Birkin bag was not authentic and was used solely as a prop while filming All’s Fair.
She explained that while she brought several of her personal handbags to set, the production also kept additional bags on hand for wardrobe purposes.
“I brought a lot of my bags in to film All’s Fair, but then we just got a bunch of other ones that we would have and leave on set that we could leave there and grab if we ever needed one for a specific outfit,” Kardashian said.
She confirmed that the elephant-skin-style Birkin was one of those set items rather than part of her personal collection.
Animal Rights Concerns and Hermès History
Animal rights organization PETA has previously stated that Hermès once produced bags using elephant skin, alleging the animals were “shot and killed on a safari in the 1980s.” The claim has fueled ongoing criticism of animal-skin luxury items.
Kardashian Reflects on the Backlash
Kardashian acknowledged that the incident became a major point of controversy and said she regrets not clarifying the situation earlier to prevent misinformation and outrage from escalating.
The clarification now offers closure to a months-long debate that had placed the reality star at the center of renewed discussions over luxury fashion and animal ethics.