Kim Kardashian responds to backlash over Skims maternity shapewear

Kim Kardashian announced that Skims Maternity Solutionwear was on the way, but even ahead of its official launch on September 16th, the move has been met with criticism.

The shapewear line promised “the best in comfort and support for your changing body during and after pregnancy,” according to Kardashian’s description. And while many fans expressed their excitement, others voiced concern over the safety of wearing shapewear during pregnancy.

Some also questioned why you would want to “hide the journey” of being pregnant.

Actress and activist, Jameela Jamil, also appeared to share her thoughts on maternity shapewear.

“It would be so cool if pregnant people could just be allowed to be pregnant and get bigger and not be self-conscious,” Jamil wrote on Twitter, though she did not specifically mention Kardashian or Skims.

Jamil later shared a longer response on Instagram where she addressed the “discourse online,” and eventually clarified she was not speaking about Kardashian (someone she has not shied away from calling out directly in the past).

“If you feel self-conscious, you are not the problem, who can blame any of us for feeling bad,” Jamil’s Instagram statement read. “Our society has failed us immensely, and we as a collective need to put more energy into pushing back against this so we can just let a b***h live,” Jamil wrote.

“If I ever have a baby I’m welcoming the stretch marks, the new curves and I’m sure as s**t not gonna rush to try and snap back, I’m just gonna let my body heal from the Massive event that has occurred inside [it],” she continued.

“And look if you’re just doing it for support then great! But for the many I saw saying they need it to look less fat during pregnancy... you look f***ing GREAT as you are!”

Kardashian released her own statement defending the safety of the Skims Maternity Solutionwear.

“To anyone who has an issue with maternity solutionwear, and if you haven’t been pregnant before you may not know the struggle of what it’s like carrying all of this weight the way I did along with millions of strong women, @skims maternity line is not to slim but to support,” Kardashian said, later noting that the line was launched in response to the “tens of thousands” of requests she received from pregnant women.

“It provides support to help with the uncomfortable weight being carried in your stomach which affects your lower back and the compression on the leggings helps with pain relief caused by swelling,” Kardashian continued to explain. “It is also worn after you have given birth and provides the comfort and support that most women need after delivery especially if you are recovering from a cesarean.”

Coming to her friend’s defense, Chrissy Teigen, who is currently pregnant with her third child, dedicated multiple Instagram stories to discussing the shapewear. Modeling it herself, Teigen stressed that “I am 1000% not trying to make myself smaller...I do it for comfort.”