Recently, The Kardashians Kendall Jenner’s name was included as a supporter of Planned Parenthood’s #BanOffOurBodies campaign in a full-page ad in The New York Times; however, none of her sisters were named. With the ad sporting, a list of nearly 160 celebrities, such as Miley Cyrus, Ariana Grande, and Phoebe Bridgers, the inclusion of Kendall might’ve surprised or even confused some unaware of her and the rest of her family’s political views. Others were confused by the lack of any other Kardashian-Jenner names on the list. Why is Kendall the only person in her family speaking out against overturning Roe v. Wade?
This is not the first time Kendall has attempted to support a topical political movement. In 2017, Kendall’s infamous ad with Pepsi related to the Black Lives Matter movement garnered mockery and criticism for its insensitive and inaccurate portrayal. However, as fans of The Kardashians know, Kendall is not the only member of her family to weigh in on politics. Her whole family, including Kris Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian, and Kourtney Kardashian, have used their extensive social media platform to support various movements or beliefs. Some of those include the Black Lives Matter Movement and the election of President Joe Biden.
This makes the silence on Roe v. Wade from the rest of Kendall’s family even more confusing. In the past, Kylie and Kendall's influence were used to target a teen audience. As the two have grown and have created their own images separate from each other, Kendall was used to market to the younger audience more. In many ways, Kendall is very suited for this position. Kendall's natural appearance and down-to-Earth aesthetic allow her to be marketed as the relatable, young, Kardashian-Jenner sibling that any older Gen Z to Millennial person can see themselves hanging out with. Her political activism matches this brand as well. In the past, Kendall has supported campaigns encouraging her fellow young adults to register to vote, and her post in support of BLM urged this same crowd to become educated about police brutality. Her support of Planned Parenthood's #BanOffOurBodies continues this role and frames Kendall as part of the “new generation” of celebrities who will defend their power (via Elle).
As for her family's beliefs and views, her older sister Kim is the most politically outspoken member of the Kardashian-Jenner family. Kim is advocating for prison reform and has made several attempts to free inmates from death row, some of which she has done successfully. Despite Kim’s recent attempts to rebrand herself, she hasn't commented on the Supreme Court’s potential decision. However, Kendall’s solitary support of Planned Parenthood’s campaign makes sense and aligns with her brand as a member of the Kardashian-Jenner family. The family’s rise to fame led to the creation of the Kardashian brand. While primarily supported through Keeping Up With the Kardashians and now The Kardashians, members of the family also uphold it through the various audiences they try to market themselves to.
Kendall’s support of the Planned Parenthood campaign has been met with praise by fans for using her platform to speak up about a prominent issue that could impact many people. However, the praise was tepid at best, with some fans citing it as another example of performative activism by a Kardashian-Jenner. For now, it remains to be seen if Kendall will take further steps to use her platform to support this issue. With The Kardashians season 2 currently being filmed, it will be interesting to see if any political topics come up.
Sources: Planned Parenthood, Elle