Yahoo Lifestyle "Read The Room, Kim": 10 Times Celebrities Were Called Out For Being "Out Of Touch" In 2024
1.After Donald Trump won the election last month, the co-hosts of The View discussed the financial issues many Americans face. Whoopi Goldberg, apparently in an effort to relate to the audience, said, "I appreciate that people are having a hard time. Me, too. I work for a living! If I had all the money in the world, I would not be here, okay? So, I'm a working person, you know?"
She continued, "My kid has to feed her family. My great-granddaughter has to be fed by her family. I know it's hard out there."
Considering her net worth is estimated at around $60 million, the backlash was swift and severe. Social media users said she was "out of touch with reality" and had no idea what it's like to live paycheck-to-paycheck.
2.In May, influencer Haley Baylee (real name Haley Kalil) posed outside the Met Gala dressed in an extravagant floral gown and headpiece. She said, "Let them eat cake," speaking along with a TikTok sound.
As the story goes, Marie Antoinette was told French peasants had no bread to eat. She responded, "Let them eat cake" — demonstrating her out-of-touch attitude toward her starving subjects. Many historians have stated there's no evidence that the French queen actually said this, but it remains a chilling folktale about severe wealth inequality.
While her video went viral, pictures of one of fashion's biggest nights flooded social media at the same time as images of Israel's attack on the Palestinian city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Many made comparisons to The Hunger Games, where wealthy Capitol residents dressed in opulent clothing while children were murdered in the games. This sparked the 2024 Blockout, a digitine (digital guillotine) where people unfollowed and blocked celebrities who didn't speak out about Palestine to prevent their ads from reaching them.
Haley posted a nearly nine-minute apology video where she clarified that she didn't receive an actual invitation to the Met; she was a host interviewing celebs as they departed a hotel. "I'm not elite. I'm a normal person," she insisted. Haley also offered an explanation for why she hadn't spoken about Palestine: "I am not informed enough to talk about it in a meaningful and educational way."
Her apology garnered immediate backlash, with many sharing clips of the home tour that Haley — a model who's previously been featured in Sports Illustrated — gave two years ago, showing off her $17,000/month NYC apartment.
3.The day after Trump was announced as the winner of the election, Kim Kardashian posted a holiday advertisement for her Skims products on Instagram. The video featured Goldie Hawn, Kate Hudson, and their family in matching pajamas.
People in the comments quickly pointed out the poor timing. "Read the room, Kim," one user wrote. Another said, "Love you Kim, but this is not the time." Others pointed out that families are struggling to buy groceries — meanwhile, the unisex sleep set costs $120.
4.In September, Zachary Levi announced his support for Trump, calling it "career suicide" in "very, very liberal" Hollywood, and the internet promptly roasted him. Soon after, an insider told the Hollywood Reporter that Zachary was apparently "bitter" that his role in Shazam! did not make him Chris Evans or The Rock.
The internet had a good laugh at that, with one person writing, "Lmao social awareness severely lacking." Another person said, "Divorced dad energy," and someone asked, "Who lied to him?"
5.During the August press tour for It Ends with Us — a movie about ending the cycle of domestic abuse — Blake Lively promoted the film with a focus on floral clothing, going so far as saying, "Grab your friends, wear your florals, and head out to see it." The actor also wore florals to a crossover event with the drinks company she founded called Betty Buzz, and she launched a new haircare line during this time.
In a Jake’s Takes interview, Blake was asked the best way that people who see the movie and connect with it can speak with the actor. She jokingly replied, "Like, asking for my address, or my phone number, or, like, location share? I could just location share you." She went on to give a more serious response about women who see red flags and mistake them as "fuchsia" and "cute."
Meanwhile, director Justin Baldoni's main focus during the press tour was raising awareness of domestic abuse. On Instagram, he linked resources like No More, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending domestic abuse. He spoke about the message of the film often, telling Today, "I was always thinking about the outcome and the why, and the one woman I was making this for who would sit in that theater and maybe not go back to her abusive relationship."
The stark difference between Blake and Justin's promotion of the film sparked a lot of online chatter, with many calling the former "tone-deaf." One social media user wrote, "As a DV survivor, I am absolutely disgusted by the cutesy way this film is being promoted. Like it’s a rom-com, grab your girls and your florals?" Another said they were "appalled" at Blake's initial response to Jake's question and "how she turned a deep, personal, serious question into a joke."
6.In March, Khloé Kardashian reposted this "simple formula for living" on her Instagram story. The first line reads, "Live beneath your means," while another says, "Give clothes not worn to charity."
Social media users were quick to note that the Kardashian-Jenner family sells their old clothes on Kardashian Kloset rather than donating them. People also called Khloé out for the "live beneath your means" line when she lives "in a mansion" and "be living the high life." One user wrote, "The lack of self awareness is so embarrassing good god."
7.In September, Netflix released Ellen DeGeneres's so-called last standup special. The comedian spoke about being "kicked out of show business" because she was "mean," referencing the BuzzFeed News reporting on her talk show's alleged toxic and racist environment. She also talked about going to therapy and how she shouldn't have been the boss in the way that Ronald McDonald shouldn't be the CEO of McDonald's.
Social media users were less than impressed. "It was pity party for her during the whole special," one person wrote. Some called it "self-indulgent," and one user said, "All she had to do was humbly acknowledge her words and actions hurt more than she realized, and promised to learn and grow. That's it."
8.In September, Pharrell Williams shared some controversial remarks during an interview with the Hollywood Reporter. "I don’t really do politics," he said while comparing himself to a federal employee. "Come rain or shine, whether it’s a Democrat or a Republican in office, you show up to work every day, you serve your country."
He called himself a humanitarian and shared nonprofits that focus on education and Black and brown entrepreneurs. "I like people trying to help people. Not sure I’ll ever vote far right," he said with a laugh. "I won’t do that."
The singer received a wave of backlash from social media users. One user asked, "Are you able to not do politics because you're so wealthy that everything is accessible to you no matter who is in office?" Another wrote, "Not 'doing politics' is so incredibly privileged and out of touch."
9.After Trump won the election, Caitlyn Jenner shared a picture on Instagram with the president-elect and Elon Musk. "Hope is back in America," she wrote in the caption. "These two men will single-handedly save western civilization and that starts with a strong United States of America. I am here and at your service and forever indebted to your sacrifice for this country. Let’s Make America Great Again!"
Social media users slammed Caitlyn for being out of touch with LGBTQ+ issues, considering Trump's anti-trans agenda and Elon's anti-trans rhetoric and nonexistent relationship with his trans daughter. "Is it irony that a trans woman fully endorsed a man who's trying to take rights away from not only women but also transpersons, including herself? Sure feels like it," one person wrote. Others called it "disappointing" and "hugely hypocritical."
10.And finally, Katy Perry released the album 143 this year. The music video for the song "Woman's World" features the singer in traditionally masculine stereotypes, such as wearing a tool belt and riding in a monster truck, while dressed for the male gaze. She collaborated with Dr. Luke to create this attempt at a feminist anthem.
After she released the music video, Katy shared a video where she said it was "sarcastic" and "on the nose." She continued, "With this set, we’re, like, not about the male gaze, but we really are about the male gaze."
Considering the collaboration with Dr. Luke — who Kesha spent a decade fighting in court after she accused him of drugging and raping her — on a women's empowerment song, Katy received fierce backlash. People were also unimpressed with the music video itself. Many commenters told Katy to "read the room," with one person writing, "This feels like it’s mocking women instead of empowering them." Another person said, "This feels like she watched the Barbie movie and wanted to make her version but decided to have men write and produce it."
What do you think about these out-of-touch moments? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
