Kim Kardashian was recognized in Venice at Diane von Furstenberg’s domestic violence award on Thursday night, recognizing her work as an advocate for prison reform. Kardashian took advantage of the opportunity to talk about the judicial system and address President Trump’s immigration policy.
In a roundtable with a journalist, she was given to her by Chris Young, who was released from life sentence in prison before winning the award – Kardashian was asked what she thought about the ongoing ice attack in the United States
“The news you hear is, ‘Oh, it’s about people who committed these crimes, they’re trying to help our country.” But you hear that all those who worked so hard to build our country, and many people who are such a part of our country are affected,” she said. “People I know. Someone my friends know.”
Kardashian continued, “I want to believe there is a strong message in protection, but I can see that it’s not really happening like that.” She said, “It’s really hard, but I think we have to do what we can to protect the people who really support our country and build it up.”
Real-life stars and entrepreneurs have been advocating for criminal justice reform for several years. Young went to the White House to seek their tolerance following Alice Johnson’s pardon in 2020. Young, arrested at age 22, served 11 years ago when Trump was sentenced to life in prison without parole for a lower-level drug crime. He murdered his parents in 1989. The brother was recently denied parole.
When Variety asked if there was a plan to return to the White House to defend prison reform and if it could include the Menendez brothers, she said she “want.”
“The[Menendez brothers]are in state prisons, so the governor is really in charge of that decision, but I’ll go to every administration and the White House to fight for the rights of those I believe in,” she said.
Young also spoke with reporters before the awards ceremony began and expressed his gratitude to the Kardashian. The 37-year-old is currently graduating with a degree from SMU and has a memoir along the way.
“The dead, the great Tupac said: “We all came from women, got names from women, got games from women.” We need to respect women, especially people like Kim Kardashian,” he said. “She has all the successes in the world. She didn’t have to make the decision to help those in prison, and then it shows compassion. Compassion is different from empathy.
Von Ferstenberg then intervened from across the room. “Yeah, that’s good. Compassion is action. I’m going to use it.”
With the ceremony in place, von Furstenberg declared that the evening theme was celebrating “the victory over oppression.” In addition to Kardashian, other winners included Christy Turlington Burns. Sudanese activist Hanin Ahmed. Fannie Quill Castro, an advocate of Indigenous and Environmental Rights; Julia Minori, chairman of the domestic violence awareness organization Unanesuna Centomila.
“The mission of these awards was to support and amplify the voices of women who demonstrated courage to fight, strength to survive and inspiring leadership,” he said as he held the ceremony, “to amplify the strength to survive and inspiring leadership. “In this moment of chaos and darkness in the world, it’s more important than ever to focus on finding light. Look for light.”
After Young gave a passionate introduction to praise Kardashian’s courage and sympathy, she took the stage in a chic gray dress. “The real honor tonight is not that I won this award, I see you standing here freely,” Kardashian told Young. “Chris, you embody everything this award stands for: your passion, your courage, your sparkle, your resilience. Thank you for making me a part of your battle.”
Kardashian has confirmed that prison reform will continue to be her “mission” especially after completing her law degree earlier this year.
“Chris’s potential, his humanity, sparked me. This job showed that it was not just about changing the law, but also about saving lives,” she concluded. “My journey in criminal justice reform is ongoing and I want to encourage greater conversations and generate more awareness that everyone can cooperate with this important issue. Now is the time to restore hope and give these people a fair chance of life and an opportunity for repayment after incarceration.”
