Kendall Jenner Faces Backlash Over Tequila Business

Kendall Jenner has come under fire after announcing the launch of a tequila business.

The 25-year-old supermodel has been accused of cultural appropriation after confirming that her tequila brand, 818, would launch this year after four years of development.

Taking to Instagram, Kendall wrote of the new business venture: "For almost four years I've been on a journey to create the best tasting tequila.

Instagram - kendalljenner)

"After dozens of blind taste tests, trips to our distillery, entering into world tasting competitions anonymously and WINNING, after 3.5 years, I think we've done it!

"This is all we've been drinking for the last year and I can't wait for everyone else to get their hands on this to enjoy it as much as we do!"

However, while Kendall's bevy of celebrity friends lavished praised upon the star, others accused the model of appropriating Mexican and Latinx culture.

Instagram - kendalljenner)

"Tequila production is traditionally a family business in Mexico. I think it's disgusting that another rich white celeb is appropriating Mexican culture with the audacity to think you're making it better than Mexicans," read one comment.

Kendall is not the first celeb to jump on the tequila-making bandwagon, following in the footsteps of the likes of Rita Ora and George Clooney.

Another questioned what percentage of the profits the crafters were going to see.

"Here we go, another foreigner coming to Mexico and exploiting little nameless local producers, by paying them 1 per cent out of their real profit," they wrote, while a second said: "I wonder how much they are really going to make compared to the millions YOU will profit!"

Others were quick to point out the Kardashian-Jenner's checkered history of appropriating other cultures, with the family having previously been accused of "stealing" elements of Black culture.

Instagram - kendalljenner)

"Your family usually steals from Black culture. You decided to switch it up and steal from Mexican culture. Innovative," read one comment. "Why can't she stick to whiskey or whatever her Caucasian background is... how sad."

Tequila fans, who also criticised Kendall for drinking the spirit with ice, which dilutes the flavour, added they were more inclined to support homegrown tequila companies.

"I know who I will be supporting and it won't be a rich model who's contribution to the craft was 'Tequila tasting'...nah I will support the authentic soul and people who actually can call it theirs," commented one.

Instagram - kendalljenner)

Tyla has contacted reps for Kendall for comment.

Kendall previously hit headlines for sharing a photo in her underwear earlier this week, with many women on Instagram saying they felt "insecure" seeing the model posing.

However, Kendall herself was quick to reassure fans, adding she too also has bad days.

Topics: Kendall Jenner, Food & Drink, Alcohol

Kimberley Bond

Kim is a journalist at Tyla, and has previously worked at the Evening Standard, Radio Times as well as several national newspapers. A showbiz obsessive and a television fanatic, Kim is particularly interested in celebrity gossip, A-list events and the latest releases on either the big or small screen. Contact her at [email protected]

@0xKimberley