Celebrity and businesswoman Kim Kardashian West on Thursday received criticism from advocacy group Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) for manufacturing her shapewear collection in Turkey.
ANCA asked Kardashian, who is of Armenian descent on her father’s side and a supporter of efforts to have the events of 1915 recognized as genocide, why she chose Turkey for her products in a tweet.
Dear @KimKardashian: Thank you for championing #Armenian #Genocide recognition & raising so much global awareness about #Armenia.
We saw that you are making some @skims products in Turkey. Please consider making them in Armenia which is known for great craftsmanship & service.
The reality television star said she stands against discrimination against any individual or nation “based on the past”, and stated her belief in working with people of differing opinions to affect change.
Turkey staunchly rejects any claims that the events of 1915 constitute genocide. According to estimates, some 1.5 million Anatolian Armenians lost their lives as a result of policies implemented by the Committee of Union and Progress cadres, who later took part in the founding of the Republic of Turkey.
In 2016, Kardashian sponsored a full-page ad in the New York Times as a response to Turkey’s ad in the Wall Street Journal denying the Armenian Genocide.
