Talking trash about the Kardashians is a common pastime for many ordinary Americans. On Monday, a few were able to do it to their faces.
Kim Kardashian, her mother Kris Jenner and her sisters Khloe Kardashian and Kylie Jenner sat in the front row of a Los Angeles courtroom as prospective jurors aired their feelings about the the four women, all defendants in a lawsuit brought by Rob Kardashian's former fiancee, Blac Chyna.
“Anything that has to do with their names is just a big no for me,” one man said. “I don’t think reality TV is good for society.”
Chyna, whose legal name is Angela White, is suing the Kardashians, alleging they destroyed her TV career.
During jury selection her lawyer, Lynne Ciani, asked 47 candidates their feelings about the plaintiff and defendants, and the reality shows from which the case stems.
Another said: “I sincerely hope none of these people get any wealthier because of this."
One woman said her teenage daughter tried to watch Keeping up with the Kardashians when it first came on, but she put a stop to it.
“I don't think they were the best role models,” she said. "I wouldn’t let her watch anything involving them.”
One panel member couldn't even wait to be asked. Told to give his name, occupation, marital status and home town shortly after sitting down, he answered then added: “And I just want to say I have a very negative perception of the parties and I'm not sure I could be unbiased."
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Kardashian made a quick stop at the new Givenchy shop. Anna Nielsen for The National -
At 12:30 on Saturday, she walked into the Givenchy store with her filming crew, and remained there for around 15 minutes. Anna Nielsen for The National -
She wore a clingy ribbed white ensemble with a beige trench coat, black baseball cap and her signature lace-up style boots. Anna Nielsen for The National -
Friday’s makeup masterclass marked the reality star’s first public appearance since her robbery in Paris last October, for which 16 suspects were arrested earlier this week. Anna Nielsen for The National
The defendants did not seem defensive about the disrespect. They chatted with each other and smiled during breaks.
Judge Gregory W Alarcon was not entirely pleased by the tone, however.
“I appreciate your honesty. You’re certainly not shy,” he told the panel. "But this is the type of case, like all cases, where everybody is entitled to a fair trial.
"There’s a jury instruction that says the wealth of a party or the poverty of the party doesn’t matter."
The jury is expected to be seated later on Monday, with opening statements starting on Tuesday.
The Kardashian women are all expected to testify, and had been expected to attend at least parts of it, but their appearance for jury selection was something of a surprise.
Wearing loose-fitting business suits, the mother in white, her daughters in blacks and greys, they were ushered in by security at the last moment before the jury panel was brought in.
One prospective juror, who has served on other cases, said he did not like the pampered treatment he felt the defendants were getting.
Michael Rhodes, the Kardashians' lawyer, said that courthouse security drove them in and escorted them into the courtroom for a reason.
“Do you understand that there is a dark side to celebrity and that people that are famous sometimes need extra security?” Mr Rhodes asked.
“Does that mean that they need Fiji water hand-delivered to them as they sit in court?” the man responded.
The family also had supporters in the room.
“I am a pretty big fan of the Kardashians so I don’t think I would be able to make an unbiased judgment," one young woman said.
“I also am a big fan of the Kardashians," a young man said. "I’ve been watching it since I was little, so I don’t think I could be very fair.”
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Rapper Kanye West boards his car in Paris on May 20, 2014. Gonzalo Fuentes / Reuters -
Mary Jo Shannon, grandmother of Kim Kardashian, arrives at Kanye West’s Paris apartment on May 20, 2014. The gates of the Chateau de Versailles, once the digs of Louis XIV, will be thrown open to Kim Kardashian, Kanye West and their guests for a private evening this week ahead of their marriage. Jacques Brinon / AP photo -
Kendall Jenner, centre, and Kylie Jenner, leave Kanye West’s Paris apartment on May 20, 2014. . Jacques Brinon / AP photo -
Khloe Kardashian leaves an apartment building in Paris on May 20, 2014. Gonzalo Fuentes / Reuters -
Kris Jenner, mother of Kim Kardashian, leave Kanye West’s Paris apartment on May 20, 2014. Jacques Brinon / AP photo -
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West leave a fitness club in Paris on May 21, 2014. Gonzalo Fuentes / Reuters -
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West arrive at a fashion designer workshop in Paris on May 21, 2014. Gonzalo Fuentes / Reuters -
Preparations are underway at Forte Belvedere for Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s wedding party on May 21, 2014 in Florence, Italy. Laura Lezza / Getty Images -
Kim Kardashian walks in a street of Paris on May 22, 2014. Kardashian and partner Kanye West are expected to be tying the knot this weekend. Florence’s La Nazione daily reported that they would have a marriage ceremony in France early on May 24, before travelling to Italy for the party. Kenzo Tribouillard / AFP photo -
Kanye West arrives at a fashion designer shop in Paris on May 22, 2014. Gonzalo Fuentes / Reuters -
Body guards escort TV personality Kim Kardashian, right, and her sister Kourtney, who walk in the street as they visit fashion shops in Paris on May 22, 2014. Gonzalo Fuentes / Reuters -
Kim Kardashian, centre, pushes a stroller next to her partner Kanye West, front, and her mother Kris Jenner, second to left, as they leave their hotel on May 23, 2014 in Paris. Kenzo Tribouillard / AFP photo -
The cars of Kim Kardashian, Kanye West and their guests arrive at the entrance of the Wideville Castle, in Davron, 35 miles west of Paris on May 23, 2014. Francois Mori / AP photo -
One of the cars of Kim Kardashian, Kanye West and their guests arrives at the entrance of the Wideville Castle, in Davron. Francois Mori / AP photo -
People gather around Kim Kardashian, centre, and Kanye West, left, as they leave their residence in Paris on May 23, 2014, ahead of their wedding. Kanye West and his bride-to-be Kim Kardashian lunched on May 23 at a French chateau owned by iconic designer Valentino, kicking off a marathon celebration expected to culminate in the wedding of the year Kenzo Tribouillard / AFP photo -
Fans gather to watch guests arriving in cars at the Chateau of Versailles to attend a private party hosted by Kim Kardashian and Kanye West on May 23, 2014 in Versailles, outside Paris. Kanye West and his fiancee Kim Kardashian head to Florence on May 24 to host a private party that might or might not be their wedding. Thomas Samson / AFP photo -
Fans surround a car carrying guest as it arrives for a private tour of the Palace of Versailles on the eve of the wedding of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, in Versailles, near Paris, France, on May 23, 2014. Etienne Laurent / EPA -
The couple will reportedly get married in Florence, Italy, on 24 May. Etienne Laurent / EPA
The Kardashian fans said they knew who Blac Chyna was but had not developed strong feelings about her.
One woman who said she didn't care for the Kardashians liked Chyna because the two went to the same nail salon and she was “always nice to me".
Chyna, a model and influencer, began dating the lone Kardashian brother, Rob, in January 2016, and by the time the year was over they were engaged, had a daughter together and were starring in their own Keeping up with the Kardashians spin-off called Rob & Chyna, on the E! network.
A second season was being shot when the two broke up, and the show was scrapped.
In 2017, Chyna sued the family for $100 million, saying they had defamed her and illegally interfered with her contracts and business dealings, using their power with producers and executives to drive her out of reality TV.
The Kardashians denied any wrongdoing and said in court filings that they had legitimate concerns about Chyna and fears for the safety of their son and brother given the “violence and toxicity” of the relationship.
Chyna is also suing Rob Kardashian, but the differences in her allegations against him prompted the judge to sever that part of the case into a separate trial that will follow this one.
The family gained fame through 20 seasons of Keeping up with the Kardashians, which ran from 2007 to 2021 on E! and made them social media superstars and prized product pitchers.
