Why Do People Hate Kourtney Kardashian?
The Kardashian family has been a fixture in pop culture for over a decade now. The family rose to fame with their reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians, which documented their lavish lifestyles and family dynamics.
While sisters Kim, Khloe, and Kylie often grab the most headlines, oldest sister Kourtney Kardashian has also faced her fair share of backlash over the years. Here’s a look at some of the reasons why Kourtney has her haters:
Her Privileged Upbringing
One of the main reasons people dislike Kourtney is because she was born into wealth and privilege. Her father was famed attorney Robert Kardashian, who was part of OJ Simpson’s legal defense team. Growing up, Kourtney wanted for nothing and was handed a charmed life.
This background rubs some people the wrong way, as they feel the Kardashian sisters are famous for being famous, not for any discernible talents. Kourtney has been called out for being spoiled, entitled and out of touch with regular people.
Perceived Laziness
Another common criticism of Kourtney is that she is lazy and doesn’t work as hard as her sisters. On Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Kim and Khloe were often shown working on their business empires, while Kourtney seemed content to just be a mom.
There is a perception that she just coasts on the family’s fame and success without contributing much. She has tried launching side businesses like a kids clothing line, but they have not taken off the way Kim’s makeup and shapewear lines have. Her laidback attitude makes some viewers feel she takes her life of luxury for granted.
Kourtney’s Attitude
In addition to being seen as privileged and lazy, Kourtney also gets called out for having a bad attitude. On the show, she often comes across as rude, dismissive and bratty towards her sisters and mom Kris Jenner.
Kourtney seems bothered by the family’s fame and constant business ventures. She has open disdain for many of the photo shoots and sponsored posts they do to make money. Kourtney’s eye rolls and snarky comments make people feel she is ungrateful and doesn’t appreciate her fortunate lifestyle.
Messy Love Life
As the oldest Kardashian sister, Kourtney’s love life and parenting skills have also faced lots of scrutiny over the years. She had an on-again, off-again relationship with Scott Disick, with whom she shares three kids. Kourtney and Scott’s tumultuous romance played out on the show, leading many to criticize Scott’s hard partying ways and call out Kourtney for exposing her kids to the dysfunction. Their split was very messy.
Kourtney’s subsequent romances and co-parenting relationship with Scott remain gossip fodder. Kourtney has stood by Scott through rehab stints and rebound flings. Some feel she puts up with Scott’s bad behavior due to their long history, while critics feel she should make her kids the priority over any lingering romantic feelings.
Is She Rude to Her Sisters?
Kourtney’s relationships with her sisters have also faced scrutiny over the years. On the show, arguments often erupt between the strong personalities of the Kardashian women. Kourtney and Kim’s fights have been legendary. Some accuse Kourtney of being rude or mean to her younger sisters, while others feel she dishes out tough love or puts them in their place at times.
Kourtney has been called the least interesting Kardashian sister due to her resistance to share all aspects of her personal life on camera. But she’ll also lash out at her sisters for oversharing or exploiting their kids. Kourtney seems to feel that privacy should take priority over the show at times. This hypocrisy irks both fans and her family members.
Is She Anti-Vax?
In recent years, Kourtney has faced backlash for her unconventional health and parenting approaches. On the show and social media, she has advocated for organic, gluten-free, dairy-free diets. Kourtney also came under fire for revealing she does not vaccinate her children.
The anti-vax movement is controversial, as many believe it puts public health at risk. Kourtney maintaining this stance while enjoying a jet-setting lifestyle struck many as hypocritical. She also promoted supplements and other alternative medicine. Critics feel she uses her platform irresponsibly to spread dangerous misinformation.
Showing Off Her Wealth
While lavish displays of wealth are nothing new for the Kardashian family, some feel Kourtney flaunts her lifestyle in a particularly obnoxious way. She has given mansion tours on the show that highlight walk-in closets stocked with Birkins and an extensive staff of nannies, chefs and assistants. During the pandemic, Kourtney faced backlash for tone-deaf posts about staying home being like living in paradise.
Fans called her out for being so out of touch at a time when people were losing jobs and falling ill. Kourtney’s over-the-top birthday celebrations for her kids also strike some as simply vulgar consumerism run amok. For a woman who claims to want privacy, she sure puts a lot of her life out there for the public to criticize.
Is She a Diva?
Some people perceive Kourtney as behaving like a diva, believing she is better and more important than her sisters. They feel her standoffish, superior attitude indicates she thinks she has outgrown the show that made her famous. She takes long breaks from filming and threatens to quit when unhappy with storylines.
Kourtney also seems to avoid appearing on KUWTK spin-offs like Khloe & Lamar and Rob & Chyna, possibly to distance herself from the “trashier” aspects of the brand. Reports indicate she delays shooting schedules with her tardiness, something production sources have labelled “unprofessional.”
Does She Exploit Her Kids?
As the Kardashian kids have grown up in front of the cameras, debates around their privacy and well-being have intensified. Kourtney’s parenting choices have come under particular fire in this regard. Critics accused her of exploiting her children and compromising their safety by having them appear on TV and her social media feeds.
Photos of the kids that reveal their location are seen as dangerous. Kourtney has also been slammed for allowing her young daughter Penelope to have social media accounts and wear makeup. Some child psychology experts allege that growing up ultra-famous with 24/7 security guards and pampered lifestyles may warp the kids’ perspectives.
Of course, the Kardashian mothers disagree. But Kourtney does seem to share more of her kids’ lives publicly than her sisters in some ways.
Is She a Bad Sister?
One of the biggest sources of backlash against Kourtney comes from her relationships with her sisters. Fans have accused Kourtney of being rude, mean, attention-seeking, jealous and vindictive at times. They feel she looks down on or belittles her siblings.
Some examples pointed to are:
- Kourtney has fat-shamed Khloe about her weight and criticized Kim’s style.
- She got into vicious physical fights with Kim over boundaries and jealousy issues.
- Kourtney mocked Kim’s fertility struggles and contouring make-up.
- She took digs at Kendall and Kylie’s lack of parenting experience.
- Kourtney flaunted her wealth to make Rob feel bad during his career slump.
While siblings argue, some feel Kourtney takes things too far. The way she treats her sisters sometimes comes off as superior, resentful, and needlessly cruel.
However, others argue the sisters give as good as they get, and the show amps up drama for ratings. They feel Kourtney’s direct communication style is just being misconstrued.
Conclusion
In many ways, Kourtney Kardashian’s persona embodies the love-her-or-hate-her polarizing nature of her famous family overall. As one of the least showbizzy sisters, her behavior can come across as biting honesty or selfish hostility, depending on one’s perspective.
However, Kourtney has undeniably played a huge role in the success of Keeping Up with the Kardashians and the building of their empire. Fans who have followed her story since Season 1 have seen her evolve from spoiled party girl to multi-tasking mom of three.
No matter how many businesses her sisters launch or followers they accumulate on social media, the complex dynamics between these Hollywood siblings remains the heart of their brand. Kourtney’s clashes and reconciliations with Kim and Khloe have given us some of reality television’s most memorable moments.
So while Kourtney may be the Kardashian who garners the most criticism, she remains an integral part of the show’s DNA. For viewers who love the Kardashians, Kourtney hate-watching just comes with the territory. Her stubborn attitude provides the essential friction that keeps fans tuning in season after season.
Frequently Asked Questions about Kourtney Kardashian Backlash
Why do people say Kourtney Kardashian has a bad attitude?
Kourtney is often portrayed as rude, dismissive, and ungrateful, especially towards her sisters and mom Kris Jenner. She frequently rolls her eyes, argues, and throws tantrums when asked to participate in family business deals or photoshoots.
What is the controversy over how Kourtney disciplines her kids?
Kourtney has received criticism for using physical punishment and shouting at her children. One incident where she harshly pinched and slapped daughter Penelope’s arm was caught on camera, sparking debates around appropriate discipline.
Why did Kim and Kourtney get into a physical fight?
In Season 18, tensions over Kourtney’s refusal to film certain aspects of her life boiled over. Kim and Kourtney exchanged personal insults, resulting in Kim physically attacking Kourtney. Kourtney stepped away from filming after the violent altercation.
How has Kourtney’s relationship with Scott Disick affected her image?
Kourtney stood by Scott through alcohol abuse issues, cheating scandals, and rehab. This led some to criticize her for exposing their children to Scott’s irresponsible behavior and prioritizing her on-off romance over their well-being.
What controversial health approaches does Kourtney follow?
Kourtney has revealed she feeds her kids a gluten-free, dairy-free, organic diet and does not vaccinate them. Promoting anti-vax beliefs contradicts medical consensus and may spread harmful misinformation to her impressionable young fanbase.
Why did Kourtney threaten to quit Keeping Up with the Kardashians?
Kourtney has expressed disinterest in sharing all aspects of her personal life and complained about long filming hours cutting into family time. She prefers keeping some things private and has considered leaving the show entirely.
How have Kourtney’s parenting choices come under fire?
In addition to her food and discipline methods, people have criticized Kourtney for allowing Penelope to have social media, wear makeup, get acrylic nails, and go on lavish vacations during school weeks.
What does Kourtney say in her own defense about criticism?
Kourtney has suggested public scrutiny and mom-shaming are burdens all celebrity mothers face. She stands by her disciplining, saying kids “need to get hit once in a while.” Kourtney also claims editing exaggerates family conflicts.