Kylie Jenner’s Scandals: What Happened to Her Business Deals?
Kylie Jenner is a huge name. She’s big in beauty and fashion. No doubt about it. But even she has faced many scandals. These events truly rocked her business relationships sometimes. Her public image took some hits. Remember the accusations of cultural appropriation? Those came up often. Her own business practices were questioned too. Her personal life also stirred up controversy. All these things undeniably affected her partnerships. So, what was the real impact on these deals? And honestly, how did she even start to fix things? Let’s talk about it. We’ll look at her actions closely. We’ll see how brands reacted then. It’s quite a story, isn’t it?
Kylie’s Brand: A Quick Look Back
We need to understand her brand first, you know? Kylie Cosmetics started in 2015. It quickly became a billion-dollar business. Seriously fast growth. In just a few years, by 2019, Forbes reported it was worth $900 million. Imagine that kind of value! Her huge social media following really helped. She used it to market her products everywhere. But with big success comes big attention. People watch closely. Everything you do.
The beauty world cares a lot about public opinion. To be honest, it’s very sensitive to criticism. Back in 2020, Kylie got some backlash. People said she took ideas from other cultures. This was in her product marketing specifically. Take her Kylie Skin line for example. Some felt it exploited Black culture. A survey showed interesting results back then. Morning Consult found that 54% of people. They would buy less from brands facing such claims. This criticism made Kylie rethink things. Her brand’s reputation was definitely on the line. It was troubling to see this unfold.
Influencer marketing itself was really taking off around this time. It wasn’t always this massive industry. Back in the early days, it was mostly bloggers or YouTubers. Brands sent free stuff. Then came platforms like Instagram. Influencers became mega-celebrities. Their personal brand became inseparable from the products they promoted. This history shows why Kylie’s personal actions matter so much. They directly impact her business because *she* is the brand.
Specific Scandals and Their Impact
A big scandal hit hard in 2019. Kylie posted a photo of herself online. She wore cornrows in the picture. This hairstyle is tied deeply to Black culture and its history. People quickly accused her of cultural appropriation. They felt it disrespected the hairstyle’s origins. The online reaction was immediate and loud. Many called her out on social media right away. #KylieIsOverParty even trended on Twitter for a while. This really showed public anger building fast.
The impact was clear to see. Brands like PUMA and Adidas noticed immediately. They had deals with her. They started to rethink their connections publicly. It’s troubling to see how quickly controversy can spread. Public feelings can change so fast these days. This sudden shift means quick problems for business deals. PUMA made a statement after the cornrow post happened. They spoke specifically about diversity and inclusion publicly. This sent a strong signal of caution, you know? They wanted distance from the backlash hitting Kylie directly.
Then, 2021 brought more concerning news. Reports said Kylie Cosmetics sales dropped noticeably. Sales apparently fell by 30% that year. Critics and experts blamed her many controversies. They said her scandals hurt her brand’s image significantly. Consumers lost some trust in the brand. It was tough to watch her navigate that period. Honestly, brand trust is hard to earn. Losing it is way too easy sometimes.
How Things Started to Get Better
So, what did Kylie do? How did she handle these tough times? A big part was public relations efforts. She worked hard to fix her public image. She apologized for the cornrow incident finally. She said she didn’t mean to offend anyone at all. She also expressed her admiration for the culture she supposedly appropriated. But was that simple apology enough? It seems to me that apologies are a necessary first step. Yet, they often don’t go deep enough to truly matter. They can’t fully mend broken trust instantly. It takes more than just words.
Kylie also worked on making her brand more diverse. She started working with different creators openly. She partnered with more varied influencers regularly. For example, she teamed up with Black artists quite a bit. They helped promote her makeup lines effectively. This aimed for a more inclusive brand image, clearly. This approach helped her get some trust back slowly. It also showed she could learn from mistakes. She showed she was willing to change things up.
Another way she fixed things was through being more honest. In late 2021, she made a big announcement. She would be open about her products and their creation. This meant showing how they were made step by step. It also covered where ingredients actually came from. This helped rebuild trust with customers. Especially after people questioned her ethics earlier. A survey showed something really important about this. Label Insight found that 94% of people polled. They trust brands that are honest and transparent. By facing these worries head-on, Kylie aimed to lessen the long-term harm. It was a smart strategic move, frankly.
There were opposing views, of course. Some critics felt her actions were just PR moves. They argued it wasn’t genuine change. It’s hard to know for sure, isn’t it? But from a business perspective, the actions did help stabilize things. That said, rebuilding trust takes time and consistent effort. It’s not an overnight fix.
Social Media and Influencers: A Big Factor
Kylie’s scandals tie so closely to social media, you know? They also connect directly to influencer culture today. These platforms are a double-edged sword really. They offer a direct line to fans instantly. But they also spread criticism unbelievably fast. Really fast. Think about the cultural appropriation debate happening online. Social media users spoke up quickly and loudly. This caused immediate brand backlash for her. It wasn’t slow at all.
Imagine a single tweet going viral. Or maybe an Instagram post sparking outrage. It can make a hashtag trend globally in minutes. This is a real thing now. It can truly make or break a brand overnight. Sometimes in just hours, honestly. Kylie’s skill navigating this was tested often. In 2022, she faced more criticism again. This was about her perceived poor response to COVID-19 guidelines. She actually stepped back from social media for a bit. This smart move let her regroup privately. She could focus on fixing her brand image away from the noise. It was a conscious decision.
Social media metrics are everywhere now. Data from Statista shows that the global influencer marketing market reached over $21 billion in 2023. That’s immense. This massive reach means one misstep is amplified globally. An expert like Neil Patel, a marketing guru, often talks about this. He emphasizes that authenticity is paramount for influencers today. Without it, the audience sees right through you.
Comparing Kylie to Other Influencers
It’s helpful to compare Kylie to other influencers sometimes. How do her scandals stack up against theirs? Think about James Charles for a moment. He had many problems and claims against him. There were claims of really bad behavior openly discussed. His brand took a huge hit because of it. He lost deals with big brands very publicly. Morphe, for example, cut ties completely. This reportedly cost him a stunning $12 million. Quite a lot of money, really. It was a major business blow.
Kylie, though, managed to keep most of her major deals. This was different from James Charles’ situation. Her brand was already incredibly strong globally. She also seemed to manage the public relations problems relatively quickly. Her scandals were serious, yes. But they didn’t completely ruin her key business connections somehow. This shows her brand is powerful and resilient. It also shows she makes smart, strategic choices under pressure. Was it luck? Maybe. Was it smart PR? Probably a lot of that.
Think about Logan Paul too. He faced intense backlash for his actions in Japan’s Aokigahara forest. That caused sponsors to drop him fast. Yet, he managed to pivot and rebuild his brand in other areas like wrestling and energy drinks. This comparison shows there isn’t one way influencers handle crisis. Some lose everything. Others find a path back. Kylie’s path involved strategic silence and then calculated shifts towards diversity and transparency.
What’s Next for Influencer Brands?
So, what’s in store for Kylie and her partnerships down the road? Influencer marketing keeps changing incredibly fast. Consumers want more ethical practices from everyone. They demand openness and diversity from brands they support. Brands, even huge ones like Kylie Cosmetics, simply must adapt to this. This is super important for staying relevant, honestly. A McKinsey & Company survey found something telling. 67% of consumers polled. They like and prefer brands committed to social causes. This trend will surely grow even stronger. Companies not changing might face real trouble soon.
I am excited to see how Kylie will create new ways to connect. Other influencers will too, I hope. They need to meet these growing expectations authentically. I am eager to watch this unfold and see who gets it right.
Plus, Gen Z is growing up fast. They really care about being real and authentic. They also value social good immensely. This generation will shape the future of business spending. Brands ignoring these values will struggle to survive. Keeping loyal customers will be harder than ever for them. Kylie’s ability to change and evolve will be absolutely key. It will help her brand last in this new market. It’s a challenge, for sure. Let’s work together to encourage brands to be better.
Your Questions Answered
Have you ever wondered about Kylie’s partnerships after the scandals?
Q1: Did Kylie lose all her business deals because of the scandals?
Not at all, actually. She faced criticism and backlash, yes. But she kept most of her partnerships intact. She handled the problems smartly from a business viewpoint.
Q2: How did Kylie respond to cultural appropriation claims?
She put out a public apology eventually. Then, she started working with different creators openly. This helped her promote a more inclusive brand image over time.
Q3: Are Kylie’s brands still doing well today?
Yes, they are, generally. Sales dipped sometimes, remember that 30% drop? But her brands remain successful and popular. She keeps changing her plans constantly. She reacts to what people think and want.
Q4: What’s the biggest lesson from Kylie’s scandals?
Authenticity and quick, smart crisis management are crucial. Ignoring criticism or being slow to react hurts a brand immensely in the social media age.
Q5: Is influencer marketing still powerful despite these risks?
Absolutely. It’s huge. But the rules are changing. Consumers want genuine connection and ethical practices now. It’s not just about popularity anymore.
The Road Ahead for Influence
So, what have we learned from all this? Kylie Jenner’s scandals really hit her partnerships hard sometimes. No doubt about it. But she found ways to handle them strategically. She used smart public relations tactics. She focused on more diverse efforts visibly. She also showed more openness about her products. This helped her keep a strong brand presence overall.
What happens next? Well, we’ll see how she keeps changing things up. Consumer expectations are always shifting, aren’t they? I believe her staying relevant truly depends on one key thing. It’s her promise to be real with people. It’s also about doing business responsibly every single day. People are becoming much more aware these days. They think about the brands they back and support. The stakes will only get bigger for influencers.
I am happy to imagine a world. A world where influencer marketing changes for the better. It puts ethical practices first. It builds true connections based on trust. That kind of future isn’t far away at all. Kylie Jenner might just help shape it further. It’s quite a thought, isn’t it?
