**Rihanna and Beyoncé’s Strained Relationship with the Kardashians: The Battle of Style, Influence, and Business**
Along with being beauty moguls, reality television stars, and modern-day style icons, the Kardashians are easily one of the most divisive families of the 21st century.
Love them or hate them, we can’t help but talk about them, and that temptation extends to celebrities too. Recently, it has been revealed that Rihanna and Beyoncé have both expressed disdain for the Kardashians. What led these iconic singers to take such a stance?
### Imitation or Admiration?
It’s no secret that pop sensations Rihanna and Beyoncé have never been fond of the Kardashians. Both are known as groundbreaking fashion icons and successful businesswomen, as well as entertainers.
This background perhaps explains why the Kardashian clan has been unapologetically trying to emulate their style for so long.
Among the many things that the Kardashian-Jenner family is famous for, their fashion sense stands out the most. They have always been on top of their fashion game and have even started a few trends in the luxury fashion category on Instagram, thanks to their heavy influence on pop culture.
The Kardashian-Jenner family’s appropriation of Black culture—everything from urban fashion to Fulani braids—has helped them snag the crown as top social media influencers.
### The Beyoncé-Kim Kardashian Tension
Kim Kardashian has a well-documented admiration for Beyoncé. However, fans have often noticed striking similarities between Kim’s fashion choices and Beyoncé’s iconic looks.
This imitation has included hairstyles, fashion choices, and even specific poses. A notable incident occurred in 2019 when Kim came under fire for her Vogue Arabia cover shoot, which many fans felt was an attempt to look like Beyoncé.
Kim’s attempts to ingratiate herself with Beyoncé have not gone unnoticed. When Beyoncé gave birth to her twins, Kim sent her a KKW Beauty contour kit in a gold box worth $150,000, along with $10,000 worth of clothes for Blue Ivy and the twins from her children’s fashion line, Kids Supply.
Despite this generous gesture, reports suggest that Beyoncé, who is a billionaire, did not have much need for these gifts and ended up giving them to the hospital staff.
Furthermore, when Kim married Kanye West, Beyoncé and Jay-Z notably did not attend the lavish wedding held in Florence, Italy. Sources have stated that while Beyoncé and Jay-Z like Kanye, they can’t stand Kim. Allegedly, behind Kim’s back, Beyoncé referred to her as a “scandalous social climber,” and Jay-Z reportedly called Kimye’s wedding a “circus.”
### Rihanna’s Clashes with Kendall Jenner
Rihanna’s disdain for the Kardashians has particularly focused on Kendall Jenner. In 2012, Kendall expressed excitement on Twitter about attending Rihanna’s concert in Los Angeles, even requesting her favorite song. Rihanna’s curt response was simply, “Well don’t come,” which fans noted as quite harsh.
In 2015, Rihanna reportedly canceled her Victoria’s Secret Fashion Week performance because of Kendall Jenner. Kendall was added to the show at the last minute, and Victoria’s Secret veteran Jourdan Dunn was dropped to make room. Sources indicate that Rihanna’s loyalty to Dunn was the actual reason for her cancellation, showcasing her disapproval of Kendall’s involvement.
### Fashion Copycats?
The accusations of copying do not stop with Kim Kardashian. Kylie Jenner has also been accused of mirroring both Rihanna and Beyoncé’s fashion choices.
Recently, Kylie posted a photo of herself in a green leopard print jumpsuit, which fans quickly pointed out was identical to one Beyoncé had previously worn. Similar instances have occurred with Rihanna. To promote her new Kylie Cosmetics summer collection, Kylie posed in a $695 leopard print catsuit by LaQuan Smith, an outfit Rihanna had worn just months earlier.
### Business Rivalries
Beyond fashion, the business ventures of the Kardashian-Jenner family have also come under scrutiny. The Kardashians pride themselves on being self-made millionaires, but critics argue that Rihanna and Beyoncé set up their businesses from the ground up long before the Kardashians. Since its launch in 2017, Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty has redefined the beauty industry, particularly with its inclusive range of 40 foundation shades. Kylie Cosmetics faced accusations of copying Fenty’s concept when Kylie announced her brand would release concealers in 30 shades just months after Fenty Beauty’s launch.
### Kim Kardashian’s Instagram Stunt
One of the most notorious incidents occurred when Beyoncé released her groundbreaking visual album “Lemonade.” On the same evening, Kim Kardashian flooded her Instagram account with sexy selfies, which many perceived as a deliberate attempt to steal Beyoncé’s thunder. While Kim might have just been enjoying herself at a wedding and unaware of Beyoncé’s album drop, the timing was seen by many as an attention-seeking move.
### Conclusion
The strained relationships between the Kardashians and iconic figures like Rihanna and Beyoncé highlight the complex dynamics of fame, fashion, and business in the entertainment industry.
While imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, it seems that for Rihanna and Beyoncé, the Kardashian-Jenner family’s emulation and business strategies have crossed a line. Whether these tensions will ever be resolved remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the drama between these influential figures continues to captivate the public’s attention.
