Like a lot of you, I have been reading about Lamar Odom and his recent battle with addiction. Today I read an article in the LA Times that has emboldened me to put fingers to keyboard; the article is Kardashians' Freak Show Capitalizes on Lamar Odom One More Time. Let me start with the title. What makes this family a "freak show"? Is it because they are constantly in the media? If that's the reason, are they to blame? Or should we perhaps blame the media that keeps them in the spotlight? Or the consumers that buy up what the media puts out? In my opinion, and obviously that is all this is, MY opinion, they are a very smart and savvy family. They have made millions by simply being in the public eye and by building on their "brand". These women are, for the most part, not out partying and getting arrested and going to rehab like so many other Hollywood people. They own clothing stores and have their own line of clothing and makeup, and several reality TV shows. If this were a family of successful men would they be beaten down as much as these women?
Next in the title, I question how the Kardashians are capitalizing on Lamar "one more time". In what way are they profiting from this? From what I understand, Khloe and Lamar are a married couple. Obviously they have had struggles in their marriage, but does that mean that at his lowest point Khloe should just walk away from Lamar? Some say she should, as he was found in an apparent overdose in a brothel! That is reason enough for most to walk away. But she is sticking by her man. How does this profit her or line her pockets?
Now let's get at the meat of the article. Much of it paints a very nice picture of Lamar Odom; the author uses phases such as "sweet soul", "affable", "powerful and popular", "deeply loving and fiercely loyal." I do not doubt these descriptors to be true. But the rest of the article tells us how the Kardashians, or more specifically, Khloe, took him down to another level. How the media is focusing on the reality TV aspect and not on the addiction from which Lamar suffers. Again, I ask you, is that not the fault of the media and the consumers? The author even goes so far as to say that Odom's basketball skills declined because of the show 'Khloe & Lamar'. First of all, how does a show take away your skills of playing ball? Second, was he forced to do the show? Is he not a grown man making his own decisions?
Look, I understand if you do not like these women. We have been force-fed this beautiful and successful family. I get it. But I am sick of the derogatory comments. What have they done that is so horrible? Sex tape? Yeah, that's gross. But guess what...there was a man in that tape as well! And we know plenty of men (mostly politicians whom we put into office) who have done similar. A short lived marriage? Yeah, that was gross, too. But guess what...shit happens. WNBA stars, Glory Johnson and Brittney Griner, were finally able to be wed as a lesbian couple, went through IVF, and 28 days after the wedding and months before the babies were born they filed for divorce. I didn't see the Internet all up in a tizzy about that one.
The way I see it, there are enough bad people in this world without us trying to make something bad of a group of women who are simply successful at something that a lot of people find annoying. Instead of bashing them, turn the channel or stop buying the magazines. Easily solved.
Rant over.
"I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me...all I ask is that you respect me as a human being." ~ Jackie Robinson
"My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness." ~ Dalai Lama
"Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love." ~ Lao Tzu
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