Kim Kardashian Was ‘Blindsided’ by ‘Triggered’ Response to Her Work Comments: ‘Don’t Want to Go Back and Forth’

Credit: Brian To/Fox/PictureGroup/Shutterstock

Kim Kardashian Was 'Blindsided' by 'Triggered' Response to Her Work Comments: 'Don't Want to Go Back and Forth'

Finding a compromise. After raising eyebrows for her comments about women in business, Kim Kardashian attempted to offer more context to her words. "Just recently I got a lot of backlash for my Variety article. When I made that statement, it wasn't a blanket statement toward all women," Kim, 41, told cameras in a new episode of Hulu's The Kardashians on Thursday, October 13. "As if I didn't think women work hard or respect the work that they do because I see it every single day." Earlier that year, the reality star went viral after she offered advice to aspiring businesswomen. "Get your f–king ass up and work," Kim told Variety during an interview in March. “It seems like nobody wants to work these days. You have to surround yourself with people that wanna work." The Keeping Up With the Kardashians alum also addressed accusations that her family was "famous for being famous." "Who gives a f–k? We focus on the positive. We work our asses off," she added at the time. "If that’s what you think, then sorry. We just don’t have the energy for that. We don’t have to sing or dance or act; we get to live our lives — and hey, we made it. I don’t know what to tell you. With all respect, and with love, I’m not, like, being a bitch.” That same month, Meghan McCain weighed in on the drama, writing for The Daily Mail, "Kim is an incredibly smart woman, I would never say different. But she should really know better. The unique experience of having a successful or famous parent breeds specific and special opportunities not available to the vast majority of people, and particularly to those born into poverty." [jwplayer 1IUKfwno-zhNYySv2] The Selfish author, for her part, attempted to defend her initial response. "Well, that statement that I said was without questions and conversation around it," the beauty mogul said during an interview with Good Morning America in March. "It became a sound bite really with no context. And that sound bite came off the notion and the question right before which was, 'After 20 years of being in the business, you're famous for being famous.' My whole tone and attitude changed with the previous question that went into that question about what advice would you give to women." In response, Variety's chief correspondent Elizabeth Wagmeister hit back at Kim's recollection of their interview. "It’s not what she claims. I just reviewed the raw footage. The question was very direct: 'What would be your advice for women in business?' the reporter tweeted. "The question about being famous for being famous came after that question, actually." While filming season 2 of The Kardashians, Kim doubled down on the meaning behind her advice. "The most important people in my life — that have shaped my life and shaped my career and helped me get to where I am today — all are women," she explained in a confessional during the new episode. "So, I hated that that got misunderstood and for that I am so sorry." Scroll down for Kim's response to the backlash:

Credit: Brian To/Fox/PictureGroup/Shutterstock

Kim Kardashian Was 'Blindsided' by 'Triggered' Response to Her Work Comments: 'Don't Want to Go Back and Forth'

Finding a compromise. After raising eyebrows for her comments about women in business, Kim Kardashian attempted to offer more context to her words. "Just recently I got a lot of backlash for my Variety article. When I made that statement, it wasn't a blanket statement toward all women," Kim, 41, told cameras in a new episode of Hulu's The Kardashians on Thursday, October 13. "As if I didn't think women work hard or respect the work that they do because I see it every single day." Earlier that year, the reality star went viral after she offered advice to aspiring businesswomen. "Get your f–king ass up and work," Kim told Variety during an interview in March. “It seems like nobody wants to work these days. You have to surround yourself with people that wanna work." The Keeping Up With the Kardashians alum also addressed accusations that her family was "famous for being famous." "Who gives a f–k? We focus on the positive. We work our asses off," she added at the time. "If that’s what you think, then sorry. We just don’t have the energy for that. We don’t have to sing or dance or act; we get to live our lives — and hey, we made it. I don’t know what to tell you. With all respect, and with love, I’m not, like, being a bitch.” That same month, Meghan McCain weighed in on the drama, writing for The Daily Mail, "Kim is an incredibly smart woman, I would never say different. But she should really know better. The unique experience of having a successful or famous parent breeds specific and special opportunities not available to the vast majority of people, and particularly to those born into poverty." [jwplayer 1IUKfwno-zhNYySv2] The Selfish author, for her part, attempted to defend her initial response. "Well, that statement that I said was without questions and conversation around it," the beauty mogul said during an interview with Good Morning America in March. "It became a sound bite really with no context. And that sound bite came off the notion and the question right before which was, 'After 20 years of being in the business, you're famous for being famous.' My whole tone and attitude changed with the previous question that went into that question about what advice would you give to women." In response, Variety's chief correspondent Elizabeth Wagmeister hit back at Kim's recollection of their interview. "It’s not what she claims. I just reviewed the raw footage. The question was very direct: 'What would be your advice for women in business?' the reporter tweeted. "The question about being famous for being famous came after that question, actually." While filming season 2 of The Kardashians, Kim doubled down on the meaning behind her advice. "The most important people in my life — that have shaped my life and shaped my career and helped me get to where I am today — all are women," she explained in a confessional during the new episode. "So, I hated that that got misunderstood and for that I am so sorry." Scroll down for Kim's response to the backlash:

Credit: Jim Ruymen/UPI/Shutterstock

The Order of the Questions

During the photo shoot, the group was initially asked about what they learned from each other about running a business. The reporter followed up with a question about advice for women in the workplace before ending on the commentary around the Kardashian family's success.

Credit: Courtesy of Hulu

Placing Blame

Amid the backlash, Kris Jenner reflected on the choice of questions that her loved ones answered.

"I don't know why this question got started about how much talent we have. Would they ask Jeff Bezos that? Can you dance? Can you sing? We have some amazing businesses that became super successful and we enjoyed being together as a family and working on those companies," the matriarch, 66, told the cameras. "And that is our superpower. Not too shabby."

Credit: Courtesy of Hulu

Kim's Initial Response

"I [don't know] how I am doing. I assume you saw all the backlash from the Variety interview? I am mortified and I don't know what to do. Obviously, it is all my fault," the Skims founder told her mother, who pointed out that others "misunderstood" where Kim was "coming from."

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Making Moves to Put It Behind Her

While cameras were rolling, Khloé Kardashian offered her older sister advice about the controversy, saying, "We are built for this. Mind over matter. All of it is just noise."

Kim, however, admitted she felt conflicted about the response to her comments.

"I am usually so together [but] I am being tested. There is just so much going on. I said what I said about people working. Do I believe in that? Yes. I believe you have to work harder to do that but I was just so blindsided by how angry people got," she shared with Khloé, 38, and Kendall Jenner. "Enough people were triggered that I want to be responsible and understand why people feel the way that they feel. I do understand that not everyone was given the same opportunities that we were given."

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The Harsh Truth

"No matter what her answer would have been, people would crucify her regardless because they are like, 'Well, what do you know? You were born with a silver spoon in your mouth,'" Khloé told cameras. "But it is frustrating when the world doesn't want to see you for who you are and want to make whatever you say a personal attack. It is the right message and the wrong messenger."

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Being Shaped by Her Past

According to the aspiring attorney, her childhood offered a glimpse at a simple upbringing.  

"Yeah, we grew up privileged but people don't know the story of [Caitlyn Jenner] and mom having to sell their Hidden Hills house because they couldn't afford it and they moved into an apartment," Kim told Kendall, 26, about growing up without a solid income. "Mom really started her career and making money at 50."

The TV personally continued: "Growing up and seeing her hustle and seeing her get up every day with six kids that she had to take care of. I saw her work her ass off. That really inspired me to work."

Credit: Shutterstock

Not Without Obstacles

"I think people would assume that I got everything handed to me being on a TV show. But being on a reality show — let alone being a reality show girl with a sex tape — does not open doors," Kim, who rose to stardom after her sex tape with ex Ray J leaked in 2007, explained. "I always felt like I had to work harder to be taken seriously and for people to forget about my past."

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Showing Their Support

In the new episode, Kendall clapped back at the public response to Kim's comments. "It has gotten completely out of control all the false narratives that people believe in. It is just exhausting," the model said. "And then it goes into the whole situation that you are dealing with."

Kim also hinted at her offscreen drama with ex Kanye West, adding, "Kanye posted that he can't see the kids and I am like, 'You were here this morning. Stop with this narrative. I can't take it anymore.' But then I don't want to go back and forth with the internet."

Meanwhile, Khloé accused the rapper of "gaslighting" Kim amid the messy situation. "All of it is whatever narrative everyone wants to believe," she added. "We should buy them all lighters for Christmas and be like, 'This is because you gaslight everyone.'"