SAN FRANCISCO—Kim Kardashian-West paid a visit to the Castro District in San Francisco on Tuesday, June 30, to attend a public interview for the “Inforum” series hosted by The Commonwealth Club. Hundreds of fans gathered at noon for her 8 p.m. arrival to the Castro Theatre. Tickets were sold out for the 1400-seater venue, and prices ranged from $50-$220. The event publicized her as the woman who “has taken everything that is modern day society – from selfies to self-promotion, to sexuality – embraced it, and monetized it.”
The interview was conducted by former Judge LaDoris Cordell, who was the first African-American female judge in Northern California in 1982. During an hour-long interview session with Cordell, Kardashian-West promoted her selfie-oriented book—Selfish. She spoke candidly about female objectification, her life in the media spotlight, as well as her family, past relationships, body-image perception, and acclimated sense of self-confidence as a pre-teenager.
Throughout the evening, Kim emphasized “doing what makes you comfortable,” despite what the masses may perceive, particularly when asked whether she was a feminist. She also stated that she felt like selfies objectified women, but that it was not necessarily a bad thing, “I think there’s power in that and I think I have the control to put out what I want. So even if I’m objectifying myself, I feel good about it.”
Toward the end of the interview, Cordell asked Kardashian West about Caitlyn Jenner’s recent transition. She stated that she was proud of her journey, and that seeing Caitlyn’s emotional transition had helped her learn to be less judgmental of others. Kardashian West also commended her family, stating that the whole journey has been a family effort.
The reality star attended the event as a part of The Commonwealth Club’s Innovation Lab; past speakers have included, former President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jack Dorsey, Dan Savage, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rachel Maddow, and Hillary Clinton. Upcoming speakers will feature panels of Alzheimers researchers, and Peace Corps volunteers who were evacuated during the ebola outbreaks in New Guinea. The series was created to promote public discussions about major issues that face society.