Kimora Lee Simmons defends her marriage, ostentation
CVK
From EURWeb.com:
In this month’s Vibe Vixen cover story, Simmons denies that her marriage is one of convenience. She says: “One thing my marriage is not is convenient. I am inconvenienced as sh**! Russell and I have been together 14 years. That’s a long time - almost half my life.”
Simmons says she and her man have had their share of drama, but the tiffs are not unlike those of any other married couple.
“The things we go through are very regular things that regular people in Middle America go through,” she says. “But because of my lifestyle or the logistics of it all, it’s probably magnified those things. But they are the same problems and the same situations.”
The Baby Phat mogul also believes she’s been given a bad rap for freely flaunting her extravagant lifestyle. She says: “Look, Queen Elizabeth has more diamonds than me. Why don’t people attack her for it? .While they were telling NBA players to take off their medallions for game days, why don’t they tell the Pope not to wear his medallion to work?”
John wrote:
“I am inconvenienced as sh**!”
It almost sounds like she’s saying she’s doing Russell Simmons a favor…
Or she doesn’t understand what ‘marriage of convenience’ means!
LOL!
And people don’t call her out on the fact that she lied about her relationship with Karl Lagerfeld so she could hang with the socialites.
She’s got balls.
Posted 27 Feb 2006 at 2:03 pm ¶
Lyonside wrote:
Wait… 14 years is about 1/2 her life.
How old is she? *brain… hurts… bad… math…*
Posted 27 Feb 2006 at 2:44 pm ¶
Merq wrote:
—Or she doesn’t understand what ‘marriage of convenience’ means!
LOL!—
It seemed to me like it wasn’t meant to be taken literally. you know… a play on words.
As far as the age thing goes, I’m assuming she means she’s in her early 30s. While I agree with her comparisons to Queen Elizabeth, I think the Papal comparison weakened her argument, seeing as his adornments are part of his “uniform.”
Posted 27 Feb 2006 at 4:41 pm ¶
Keya wrote:
I Love Kimora, She’s GREAT!
Posted 27 Feb 2006 at 7:45 pm ¶
Ben wrote:
best headline EVER, btw.
Posted 27 Feb 2006 at 9:31 pm ¶
John wrote:
Ya know, there was so much irony… guess I just couldn’t take it.
-”While I agree with her comparisons to Queen Elizabeth…”-
Let’s be real, here.
People criticize Kimora’s hyping her reputation for material excess, which is what she believes hip-hop culture is all about. And to the younger generation (poor or upper-middle class; black, brown, white, or swirl), this might translate as ’spend more than you make’.
Of course she’s not the only one. Hip hop was always about style and brand names. But now, it’s even less about truth-telling and art.
Posted 27 Feb 2006 at 10:21 pm ¶
mtevc wrote:
All I can say is UGH! Kimora is straight up horrible–crass and tacky…you might be able to buy your way into the upper class, but you can’t buy true class! She continues to send the wrong messages to young folk! Did she ever read a book? I doubt she wrote this one herself.
Posted 28 Feb 2006 at 2:01 pm ¶
Melanie wrote:
You guys need to stop hating on Kimora, just wish you were her!!
Posted 28 Feb 2006 at 3:48 pm ¶
yeah... wrote:
Although I don’t particularly like her or her values (what little she has) I don’t think she is the most horrible person to walk the face of the earth. I believe a lot of people dislike her becuase they envy her riches. Get over it people, get over it.
Posted 28 Feb 2006 at 6:32 pm ¶
oh yeah, wrote:
Right. She worked hard to get where she is.
Fabricating the Lagerfeld story was the only way she would be accepted by high society. She wanted it and she did what she had to do.
She wanted to make money off the Hip Hop generation, but she didnt’ have the street cred. But again, she found a way.
Do not envy her $. She was not born into riches. If you want it bad enough, you can find a way to get it too. Everyone’s got thier own talents.
Posted 28 Feb 2006 at 7:17 pm ¶
Merq wrote:
John,
Don’t get me wrong. While I’m disgusted at her insistence on telling us how Oprah is the only other person with the same special granite toilet bowl, I do think people are quick to tar her with this “ghetto-fabulous” nonsense simply because… well, you know.
Is she annoyingly over the top? Yes, but I believe “yeah…” said it best when he/she said people love to be “appropriately outraged” by her and her antics.
Posted 01 Mar 2006 at 2:44 am ¶
mtevc wrote:
If being ignorant is a value, then let’s run over to the Kimora camp. We’re not lambasting her because we’re jealous. That’s such a 4th grade comment, Melanie. Kimora deserves the negative comments. She sets herself up for them. You can make your money, run your designer line, and not appeal to the lowest common denominator. But, she chooses to lead a different life. One that is so transparent and superficial. It would be great to hear her do something useful with her money for once, in between buying granite toilets. SHEESH! Oprah might have the granite toilet, but she’s also building schools in South Africa.
Posted 01 Mar 2006 at 10:11 am ¶
John wrote:
Merq,
. Sorry, I didn’t mean to imply…
Yeah, I totally get you
And I realize she’s not the devil & I’m not jealous of her loot.
I just got sucked in (which is what makes her famous).
I watch way too much TV.
Posted 01 Mar 2006 at 5:36 pm ¶
True St. Louisian wrote:
Ive read all of the comments that we written about Kimora. I agree with her statement about Queen Elizabeth and the others. What she is doing is comparing the jewerly that she wears to the other. She is not comparing saving the world. I know alot of you do think that it takes all of that. But lets be trueful Who is she hurting? Now Lyonside Says and I quote “Wait… 14 years is about 1/2 her life. How old is she? *brain… hurts… bad… math…*” added it up. Maybe your math is a little bad. She was born in 1975 which makes her 30 or 31. she said she has been with Russell for almost 1/2 of her life, which was 14 years. She’s not 28 but she did say almost. Now mtevc Says and I quote “If being ignorant is a value, then let’s run over to the Kimora camp. We’re not lambasting her because we’re jealous. That’s such a 4th grade comment, Melanie. Kimora deserves the negative comments. She sets herself up for them. You can make your money, run your designer line, and not appeal to the lowest common denominator. But, she chooses to lead a different life. One that is so transparent and superficial. It would be great to hear her do something useful with her money for once, in between buying granite toilets. SHEESH! Oprah might have the granite toilet, but she’s also building schools in South Africa.” Missy every thing that you do is correct? She purchase things that she can afford. If you can afford Steak and that’s what you like to eat why eat Spam? The problem is that no one want to hear her brag about her riches. Most of the people that have negitive comment dont think that she deserve to make those comments that she make because she’s not doing what they want her to do with her money.
oh yeah, Says and I quote “Right. She worked hard to get where she is.
Fabricating the Lagerfeld story was the only way she would be accepted by high society. She wanted it and she did what she had to do.
She wanted to make money off the Hip Hop generation, but she didnt’ have the street cred. But again, she found a way. Do not envy her $. She was not born into riches. If you want it bad enough, you can find a way to get it too. Everyone’s got thier own talents.” Now I kind of agree with you. But this is where I disagree. Regardless to the fact that she is part Asia and Black. In the STL. if you got any part of you that is Black you are Black. The girl was not poor either. Let’s keep it real. Kimora went to private high class Luthern school in St. Louis and she drove a BMW. She might not have been as rich as she is now, but best believe she came from money. The problem that woman and especially woman of color have is we cant be happy for one another. How many time have any one lied on a job application because you wanted that job. How many time have you lied on an interview to make yourself look just a little bit better. She is not trying to cure cancer she is just make designer clothing. Donald Trump is doing the samething Kimora is doing and no one is making a big deal about him. and he is using his money to pick up gold diggers. So what’s the difference? I sometimes think she over the top too, but knocking because of a jewerly and a toilet is CRAZY.
Posted 03 Mar 2006 at 10:01 am ¶
Leelee wrote:
Kimora is not high society( old wealth) nor accepted by those circles. She is ghetto fabolous ( new rich) and everyone knows that’s another group in its self. She is accepted by Trump, the rappers and the alike. trust me those people do not count to the old money.
Posted 03 Mar 2006 at 12:05 pm ¶
mtevc wrote:
Yup…to True St. Louisian…she is just like Trump…both a lot of talk…and trying to make people think they are really that smart. Trump got his cash from daddy, and his investors prop up most of his stuff…he has less than he says. And, Kimora lucked out by marrying right.
I never said everything I do is correct. It isn’t. But I don’t think being flagrant about being ghetto fabulous is so hot either. Why brag about riches? What reason is there? Only to propagate more riches…for things we don’t really need. No offense, her line is not that inspired. Buy what you want, and I don’t fault her for selling whatever she wants. She’s free to do that. But PLEEZ….work hard to get where she is?????? Come on now…Willi Smith worked hard (in his heyday…and God rest his soul)…that was a brother who understood fashion…could sew…went to school…let’s give our due where we should, and not to people who are propped up by others. People who are in the Kimora camp are the ones who want to live like her. I don’t want to live like her…I don’t aspire to live like her. I don’t do everything correctly either…but we can strive and make money and still not be so crass.
Posted 03 Mar 2006 at 12:28 pm ¶
True St. Louisian wrote:
I would not say that t Kimora lucked out by marrying Russell. I think that it helped because of Russells business sense. If you have been inpired to do anything hard work and dedication will move you forward. Remember her parents have money. Who are we to deterimine what hot and what’s not. Braging has being going on from the begining of time. Have you ever thought that she is proud of where she is. Now you might not like her line of clothing and that’s fine, but it is profitable. Do you really believe that she did not work hard? Even dealing with Russell. I quote you again “Willi Smith worked hard (in his heyday…and God rest his soul)…that was a brother who understood fashion…could sew…went to school…let’s give our due where we should, and not to people who are propped up by others.” Wasnt Willi Smith the designer a woman? and didnt she died of AIDS. That not to discredit Willi Smith God rest his or her soul. But Kimora makes clothing for the GHETTO FABULOUS and there is not comparison. It like comparing apples to oranges.
Posted 03 Mar 2006 at 3:50 pm ¶
Anonymous wrote:
^ stay in school, sweetie.
Posted 03 Mar 2006 at 4:21 pm ¶
mtevc wrote:
Willi Smith was a man, by the way. Yes, he died of AIDS. That’s not the issue here. I agree with Anonymous…stay in school, and travel…read…get a sense of the world, and you will understand why we are saying these things about dear old crass Kimora. I don’t think Kimora waving her hand over something someone else designs is the same as Willi going to design school and building a business from scratch.
Posted 03 Mar 2006 at 6:20 pm ¶
mtevc wrote:
Not to mention the accomplishments of black designer Patrick Kelly…a real businessman and designer.
Posted 03 Mar 2006 at 6:20 pm ¶
True St. Louisian wrote:
This is the problem that I have with the comments. Kimora is not hurting anyone. All the negitive comments sounds to me that each of you had a glass of hateraide this morning. Just give credit where credit is due. Old money new money is money, if you got it you can get what ever it is you want diamonds, big house in New Jersey and so on. The only person that should have a problem with MRS RUSSELL SIMMONS is him. Russell is the ghetto one. Russell was the one who did not come from money. Guess what Baby Phat and Phat Farm was and is his company and it is profitable. Just because we don’t agree with her behavior should not give us a reason to shoot her down. Every person that you mention is still apples and oranges. Compare her to Eve. Not saying that Eves line was better or worst. Compare Phat Farm to FUBU. I dont agree with the flounting but down talking her is not going to change anything. We all need to put OUR MONEY where our mouth is and do not buy anything from that line. I will not respond to anonymous or the comment you made either. Any person that can go out and make a profit off of what they are selling is a real Business person.
Posted 06 Mar 2006 at 12:17 pm ¶
mtevc wrote:
Saying we don’t have a right to comment is ridiculous. This is America, isn’t it? What we are saying is that her work is not that of an inspired business person, but someone waving a hand over what others do…who had cash thrown her way, because of a rich husband. That is so different than Willi Smith or Patrick Kelly or the many others who worked to build something from scratch. The flagrant materialism is what’s dooming Black America. We need to stop the shopping, and start more reading! Not to be angry, but really, this is serious, and so many trivialize how we lead out lives. Savings in the African-American community is at an all-time low, and we are in serious trouble academically, across the country at high schools. Yet we choose to idolize someone who is not really a business person. Your point is that she’s a business person, no matter how she got it. No she isn’t. A comment like that takes away from those who work for a living and really build things…Johnson Publishing, etc.
Posted 06 Mar 2006 at 5:53 pm ¶
Anonymous wrote:
Kimora wants us to love her, hate her, or be amused by her. Criticizing her is only natural.
I’ll keep my money where my wallet is, if that’s okay.
A person who makes a profit from selling a product is not a necessarily business person.
Posted 06 Mar 2006 at 6:13 pm ¶
Mike wrote:
I went to high school w/ Kimora. She had money, but she earned it all. She bought the BMW she drove and she paid her own way through high school. It wasn’t that expensive of a private school, either. Those of us that knew her knew she would make a lot of herself someday… I guess she did. Now I am not proud of the attitude she has, but someone should get the story right. She spent most of her time in high school in Europe modelling. She would come back to review for finals and take them. We only saw her a couple times/ year.
Posted 12 Apr 2006 at 11:32 pm ¶