Kylie Jenner Sparks “Blackfishing” Backlash Over Vanity Fair Cover

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Kylie Jenner is receiving backlash online following the release of her recent Vanity Fair cover. The photos feature the Kylie Cosmetics founder in khaki pants and a black bra, holding a cigarette. Many social media users have criticized the images, particularly commenting on the apparent difference in her skin tone.

People on Vanity Fair’s social media pages accused Kylie Jenner of changing her appearance to look like a different race. Many questioned the authenticity of a recent photo, with one user asking, “Why the ethnicity change?” and another saying it “doesn’t look like her at all.” Some even wondered if the person in the picture was actually Jenner.

Okay, so I stumbled across a comment that pretty much sums up the initial reaction a lot of people had. Someone genuinely questioned if the photo they were seeing was actually Kylie Jenner, thinking there’d been a mix-up. Then came the bigger question: why was she dressed in what appeared to be a stereotypical depiction of a Native American woman? It definitely sparked a lot of confusion and, frankly, raised some serious eyebrows.

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Some viewers were more blunt with their disapproval, with one asking, “Who is this woman, and where’s Kylie?” Others accused the person in the video of “blackfishing” – altering their look with makeup, hair, or editing to seem Black or racially ambiguous.

Kendall Jenner’s Instagram post of the Vanity Fair cover received a varied response. While many praised the photo – including her mother, Kris Jenner, who called it “STUNNING,” and model Gigi Hadid, who wrote “Soo beautiful ky” – some followers echoed concerns from the Vanity Fair comments section, questioning why she appeared so dark and accusing her of “blackfishing.”

The backlash extended to Vanity Fair as well. Many on social media noted the magazine had recently published an article about Timothée Chalamet before promoting the feature on the Jenners.

I read an article that really stuck up for Timothée Chalamet after his comments about ballet and opera got some backlash. The writer, Chris Murphy, admitted Chalamet’s words weren’t the smoothest – he called them “graceless,” “inelegant,” and even a little rude. But he also pointed out that Chalamet didn’t actually say anything wrong, and I kind of agree. It was just how he said it that rubbed some people the wrong way.

Kylie Jenner has faced criticism before for seemingly adopting aspects of Black culture and appearance. The term ‘blackfishing,’ coined by journalist Wanna Thompson, describes when white celebrities alter their look to appear Black or mixed-race.

Kendall Jenner received backlash in 2015 after sharing photos where she appeared with dark, metallic skin and blue contacts, stating, “What I wish I looked like all the time.” When people criticized the images, she explained it was simply due to black and neon lighting, asking everyone to relax.

In 2020, Kylie Jenner faced criticism after posting photos of herself in a green Tom Ford outfit with the caption, “Giving you baby mama drama honey.” One commenter pointed out, “You’re a white woman. Please stop imitating Black and brown women; their culture isn’t a costume.”

Kendall Jenner isn’t the first in her family to receive this type of criticism. In 2018, her sister Kim Kardashian was called out for wearing braids—which she called “Bo Derek braids”—and was also accused of using makeup to make her skin appear darker during a 2017 promotion for her KKW Beauty line.

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2026-03-11 22:44