It’s insultingly reductive to say the Kardashians are only famous because of Kim’s sex tape or the sisters’ famously curvy figures.
The entire family (with the possible exception of Rob), has worked hard to build an iconic brand, but there’s no denying that large posteriors still spring to mind at the mention of the name “Kardashian.”
Kendall Jenner may not be a Kardashian by name, but she’s no less a member of the Kard clan than Kim, Khloe or Kourtney.
So when Tyler the Creator called Kendall out for being less curvy than her sisters during a recent performance, the body-shaming insult carried additional resonance.
“I want everybody to shake they ass when this f–king song come on,” Tyler said on stage.
“Hey A$ AP Rocky, shake that ass. Shake it on Jaden [Smith], he next to you, he might like it with his weird ass. Where Kendall? She ain’t go no ass but shake them bones.”
Suffice it to say, things got quite weird at Tyler’s performance over the weekend.
Obviously, it’s his comments about Kendall’s figure that are drawing the most attention — though encouraging A$ AP Rocky to shake his ass on Jaden Smith is pretty odd, too.
But it’s possible that all the uproar over Tyler body-shaming Kendall is baseless.
It’s important to note that Tyler and Kendall are friends, and he has a history of publicly and playfully mocking her.
At Coachella in 2015, Tyler called out Kendall out in brutal fashion during his set on the main stage.
“Kendall Jenner over here thinking she’s cute and sh-tt. Hey Kendall, Kendall, Kendall, I’m over here to your right. F-ck you,” he said.
While many in attendance were shocked by the comment, Kendall responded by playfully flipping Tyler the bird.
He later clarified the nature of their relationship on Instagram, writing:
“@KendallJenner PEOPLE REALLY THINK I HATE YOU LOVE HAHAHAH.”
At one point it was widely rumored that Tyler and Kendall were dating, but the rapper shot those rumors down, jokingly (we think) tweeting:
“Not possible, we’re both gay.”
So in all likelihood, Tyler was just having a laugh with an old friend when he commented on Kendall’s physique.
Now, there are some who will argue that even if they’re friends and the comment was made in jest, it’s still not okay for Tyler to publicly speak about Kendall in those terms.
They may have a point — but the joke is really quite tame compared to some of the other things Tyler has said over the years..
We’re not saying that makes it okay — just pointing out that Kendall probably wasn’t terribly shocked.
