‘I was changed by these people’: Kim Kardashian brushes off criticism that her criminal justice crusade is just a phase or publicity stunt – revealing she’s always been focused on those ‘who need help’
Kim Kardashian West surprised fans when she announced in April last year that she’s studying to become a criminal justice lawyer, and will take the bar exam in 2022.
And ahead of the launch of her new documentary series, Kim Kardashian: The Justice Project, the pop culture icon told News Corp Australia on Saturday that her crusade is not a phase or publicity stunt.
‘I’m very proud to be in a position to really speak out and help people. It’s what I love to do,’ the 39-year-old said.
‘I was changed by these people’: Kim Kardashian (pictured), 39, brushed off criticism her criminal justice crusade is a phase or publicity stunt, in an interview with News Corp Australia on Saturday
‘And maybe it’s changed my image, but that’s not the focus. I’ve always kept my eyes focused on the people who need the help.’
The mother-of-four went on to reveal how her ‘heart really opened’ after visiting prisons and connecting with those incarcerated.
‘I was changed by these people. Yes, some of them have done really horrific things, but they’e completely rehabilitated themselves,’ she said.
New path: Ahead of the launch of her new documentary series, Kim Kardashian: The Justice Project, the pop culture icon said of her foray into law: ‘Maybe it’s changed my image, but that’s not the focus. I’ve always kept my eyes focused on the people who need the help’
Kim Kardashian: The Justice Project is a two-hour documentary series, featuring four people per episode.
Covering a wide range of crimes from sex trafficking to murder, the wife of American rapper Kanye West hopes the series will shed a light on the US criminal justice system, and the impact incarceration has had on civilians.
The businesswoman and entrepreneur hopes The Justice Project will have the same longevity as Keeping Up With The Kardashians, currently in its 18th season.
Criminal justice crusade: The series will shed a light on the US criminal justice system, and Kim hopes viewers will show empathy towards those incarcerated. Pictured at the Correctional Treatment Facility in Washington D.C. in July
Kim’s foray into law became global news when she had a part to play in the release of Alice Marie Johnson.
Alice, 64, had been serving a life sentence in an Alabama prison for a non-violent drug charge, and was granted clemency by President Donald Trump in June, 2018.
Kim told US Vogue in April last year that the decision to study law came after she saw ‘a really good result’ with Alice’s case, and possessing a lack of legal knowledge.
Granted clemency: Kim’s foray into law became global news when she had a part to play in the release of Alice Marie Johnson. Kim and Alice are pictured in November, 2018
‘The White House called me to advise to help change the system of clemency, and I’m sitting in the Roosevelt Room with, like, a judge who had sentenced criminals and a lot of really powerful people and I just sat there, like, oh s**t, I need to know more.’
She continued: ‘I’ve always known my role, but I just felt like I wanted to be able to fight for people who have paid their dues to society.’
Kim Kardashian: The Justice Project is available to stream or download on Monday, April 6 on hayu.
Studying law: The mother-of-four told US Vogue in April last year that the decision to study law came after she saw ‘a really good result’ with Alice’s case, and possessing a lack of legal knowledge