The Double Standard: Kim Kardashian vs. Beyoncé and all black women

Remember Kim Kardashian’s infamous “Break the Internet” photoshoot? The world couldn’t stop talking about it—magazines, blogs, social media—praise everywhere. Yet imagine if Beyoncé or any other black celebrity woman had done the same photoshoot. The reaction would have been drastically different.

Black women are often hypersexualized in stereotypes, but when they embrace their own sexuality publicly, society tends to judge, criticize, or shame them. Headlines would likely call Beyoncé “too sexual,” “attention-seeking,” or accuse her of “setting a bad example.” Social media trolls would be relentless, dissecting every pose, every outfit, every angle.

Meanwhile, Kim Kardashian, a non-Black woman, received celebrity praise for the exact same behavior. She was celebrated for daring, for glamour, for making a statement. The act wasn’t different—it was the racial lens society applied.

This isn’t just about celebrities. It reflects a broader societal double standard: Black women are scrutinized for choices non-Black women get celebrated for. Fame doesn’t erase it. Money doesn’t erase it. And it certainly isn’t fair.

If we want equality in how women are perceived, we need to call out these double standards, even in the glossy world of celebrity culture.