Kylie Jenner is facing mounting backlash over a controversial promotional video for her upcoming King Kylie Cosmetics collection, with critics calling the campaign “deeply out of touch.”
On Sunday, the 28-year-old entrepreneur shared a short teaser on Instagram showing herself handcuffed and escorted by two police officers down a dimly lit jail corridor. Dressed in a black leather bra and matching micro shorts adorned with silver chains, Jenner completed the look with fishnet tights, chunky silver jewelry, and slingback pumps. Her long dark hair featured teal streaks — a nod to her mid-2010s “King Kylie” era, when she embraced bold, rebellious aesthetics that helped establish her early beauty brand identity.
The clip ended with a whisper of “King Kylie” as the words “King Kylie. Tomorrow” appeared on-screen, teasing the new collection’s imminent launch. While many fans and celebrity friends, including Hailey Bieber and Lauren Sánchez Bezos, celebrated the return of Jenner’s signature persona, others accused the reality star of poor judgment.
On Reddit and other platforms, critics condemned the video’s use of police and jail imagery amid heightened tensions in the U.S. over immigration enforcement and policing. “The country’s boiling over… and Kylie Jenner drops a handcuffed hot-pants photoshoot to promote cosmetics,” one user wrote. “This isn’t satire; it’s American rot.” Others described the campaign as “insanely tone-deaf,” comparing it to Kendall Jenner’s infamous 2017 Pepsi ad that trivialized protest movements.
Some online commenters also questioned the timing of the “King Kylie” revival, noting its release came shortly after “No Kings” protests against authoritarianism across the U.S. “Does anyone else find it odd that she drops a campaign called ‘King Kylie’ right now?” one critic asked.
Despite the controversy, anticipation remains high among Jenner’s loyal followers for the new collection — but the debate surrounding its imagery has reignited conversations about celebrity privilege, cultural sensitivity, and how far star power can stretch before crossing the line.
