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Khloé Kardashian Says She Was Shamed For Losing Weight: "People Were Like, 'How Dare You?'"

Khloé Kardashian is no stranger to public scrutiny. Over the years, she has endured commentary about her body—first shamed for being the "fat sister” and later criticized for losing weight.

By Carmen Schober2 min read
Khloe K
GettyDimitrios Kambouris

“It is a journey and it is a constant struggle, at least for me,” Kardashian told Bustle. “Looking back, when I was bigger, I thought I was the hottest thing in the world. I had so much more confidence the bigger I was, which is what’s crazy. And then the more in shape I am, the more insecure I can get because I’m so hard on myself.”

For Kardashian, this vicious cycle of confidence and insecurity became compounded by public scrutiny. “When I started losing weight, I got the same thing. I was fat-shamed every day when I was bigger, and then when I lost weight, people were like, ‘How dare you, you are so insecure, you’re following society.’ And I’m like, ‘OK, you guys are so confusing!’” she said. Ultimately, she realized, “You’ll never make everyone happy. I have to do what’s best for me.”

Her journey began during a tumultuous period in her life. “My weight loss journey started because I was getting a divorce,” she revealed. “I was going to therapy, and the next thing I knew, something private I told my therapist was on a tabloid. I knew my therapist disclosed this information to a tabloid because there’s no way this could have gotten out there. So I stopped going to therapy and started going to the gym.”

For Kardashian, fitness became a lifeline. “I needed a release, but I did not trust anybody else anymore. The place that I felt the safest was the gym,” she said. “As a byproduct, my body started changing. I loved the way I felt. I loved testing myself and challenging myself. And I’ve been doing it for 10-plus years now, and I love it.”

Despite her dedication, many people have often questioned the authenticity of her transformation. “Over the past three years, people are like, ‘You must have gotten surgery because you just lost weight.’ I’m like, ‘It’s been a 10-year journey! What are you talking about?’” she said.

Even so, Kardashian says she's empathetic toward others’ choices. “Even if people get surgery or [get on] the Ozempic craze, I’m like, ‘Who cares!’ As long as people feel good about themselves, who am I to judge? I think it’s ridiculous, the judgment on that.”

Khloé Kardashian’s experience isn’t unique; it reflects a larger cultural trend where women are celebrated for embracing their bodies at any size, only to face backlash when they choose to lose weight for their health or well-being. Adele and Lizzo have faced similar criticism after embarking on their health journeys.

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