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."
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.”
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.
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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FA Cup semi-finals
Saturday: Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur, 8.15pm (UAE)
Sunday: Chelsea v Southampton, 6pm (UAE)
Matches on Bein Sports
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Winner: Treasured Times, Bernardo Pinheiro, Rashed Bouresly
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
Name: Shamsa Hassan Safar
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Degree in emergency medical services at Higher Colleges of Technology
Favourite book: Between two hearts- Arabic novels
Favourite music: Mohammed Abdu and modern Arabic songs
Favourite way to spend time off: Family visits and spending time with friends
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
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