Kim Kardashian and Kendall Jenner Issue Warning to Artist Who Battered Their Faces Using Photoshop
Images of Kim Kardashian and Kendall Jenner were manipulated to look like domestic abuse victims. (Photo: Facebook)
Photos of celebrities get manipulated all of the time — cellulite is airbrushed out, skin tones are adjusted, limbs are slimmed down, even hair can be added (and removed) from a photo but one graphic artist just took things to another level. Alexsandro Palombo retouched images of celebrities to simulate the appearance of domestic violence victims, and Kim Kardashian and Kendall Jenner — who are among those featured — aren’t letting it slide. The images were created to stir discussion surrounding the International Day for Elimination of Violence on November 25 and include the words “life can be a fairytale if you break the silence.” The Kardashian-Jenner clan claim to support the cause, but the images are highly manipulated and the sisters did not agree to participate in the campaign. Other celebrities whose faces were photoshopped include Miley Cyrus, Madonna, Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, Emma Watson, and Kristen Stewart.
The original photo of Kardashian is from last year’s Valentino show. (Photo: Getty Europe)
Although the photos support a worthy cause, Kardashian-Jenner attorneys are issuing a warning to Palombo. The images, which Palombo initially posted to Facebook on November 3, accompany an artist statement explaining the cause. “The biggest accomplice of violence is the silence, a silence which every year kills or causes permanent disability more than diseases or accidents. Domestic violence is a social cancer that knows no boundaries nor social status, it can affect anyone, whether you’re an ordinary person or a celebrity,” Palombo writes. “To defeat him you need to use the antidote of culture by educating and raising awareness on Respect and Equality. Each of us has do their part to help increase awareness and to change things by any means.”
Other celebrities whose images were manipulated included Miley Cyrus and Angelina Jolie. (Photo: Facebook)
While Palombo has stirred up conversation and brought awareness to the cause by using celebrity faces, he now risks a lawsuit and the photos remain on Facebook despite the warning. Commenters who support the cause were upset that he opted to manipulate celebrity images rather than publicizing photos of people who have experience domestic violence firsthand, and some were willing to use their own images to raise awareness. “I get the concept but try posting real pics. Shouldnt take a celebrity to expose it or make up to simulate it. I have real pics! Post those!” wrote Julie Norris Martin.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen manipulated images from the media to raise awareness for domestic violence. CoverGirl’s football-inspired collection of game day looks was manipulated to depict a model with a black eye and went viral on Twitter. The accompanying slogan, “get your game face on” intended to encourage fans to wear makeup from the colors of their favorite teams. Instead, it applies to domestic violence in the NFL in wake of a case in which Baltimore Ravens player Ray Rice punched his then-fiancee (now wife) in an an elevator and leaving her unconscious. The campaign promoted a hashtag, #GoodellMustGo, in an effort to remove NFL commissioner Roger Goodell who mishandled the incident, as Rice initially received only a two game suspension and was later suspended. He has since been reinstated after appealing the decision in federal court.
CoverGirl’s football collection was manipulated to raise awareness for domestic abuse in the NFL. (Photo: Twitter)
According to Palombo’s campaign, “85% of domestic violence victims are women, ¼ of women worldwide will experience domestic/dating violence in their lifetime, [and] women between the ages of 20 to 24 are at greatest risk of becoming victims of domestic violence.” The campaign also states that “Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women more than car accidents, muggings, and rapes combined.” While the campaign may help to raise awareness about this widespread issue, the artist should have been more careful about the images he used.
If you are a victim of partner abuse, help is available. Please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential help and support.
Related:
Retouched CoverGirl Ad Calls Out Domestic Violence In NFL
