The reality star opens up about her 2010 Elle shoot with Justin Bieber and admits it wouldn’t fly in today’s world.
Kim Kardashian is revisiting one of the most talked-about moments of her early career — her controversial photoshoot with Justin Bieber. The SKIMS founder addressed the topic during her appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast, where host Alex Cooper asked her what moment from her past she probably should have been “cancelled for” but wasn’t.
“I know what it is, and I think I’m going to get cancelled if I say it,” Kim, 44, confessed. She then revealed she was referring to her 2010 Elle Magazine shoot with a then 16-year-old Justin Bieber, adding, “I don’t know who approved this, and I don’t know who thought that this was normal — this narrative.”
Kim Kardashian Explains the Context Behind the Photoshoot
At the time of the shoot, Kim was 30 years old and Justin was still in the early stages of his pop career following the release of his breakout hit Baby. The photoshoot, inspired by the 1967 classic film The Graduate, featured suggestive themes reminiscent of the relationship between a young man and an older woman.
However, Kim clarified that despite how it looked, the set environment was completely professional. “His girlfriend was there, his parents were there — I mean, it was like nothing creepy at all,” she said.
The American Horror Story actress added, “Justin is a good, dear friend of ours and of the whole family. But, like, who thought that that was a good idea? I must have been 30 years old.”
Looking Back: “It Was Just an Odd Concept”
Reflecting on the experience more than a decade later, Kim admitted that the idea behind the shoot feels strange in hindsight. “I feel like nothing ever weird was obviously happening — it was just an odd concept,” she shared. “And why none of us thought that was odd at the time, I don’t know.”
The All’s Fair star concluded by acknowledging how times have changed: “Looking back now, I’m like, that would not have been the most appropriate thing.”
A Mature Reflection on a Past Controversy
Kim’s candid comments highlight her self-awareness and willingness to revisit uncomfortable moments from her past. The reality TV icon, entrepreneur, and mother of four has often reflected on how her career — and public standards — have evolved over time.
While the photoshoot remains a notable pop culture moment, Kim’s recent reflection gives fans a clearer understanding of the context and her perspective years later.
