Kim Kardashian is making ‘deliberate, conscious moves to rattle’ Taylor Swift & ‘muscling in’ on her fandom, expert says
KIM Kardashian’s decade-long feud with Taylor Swift has been thrust into the spotlight again in the wake of her latest Skims release.
The reality star has been stoking the flames for months using different tactics to get her message across, according to a psychologist.
Kim's Skims campaign caused a stir as it featured Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and his wife Brittany Mahomes, with their kids, Sterling, two, and 11-month-old Bronze.
It came just weeks after Taylor went public about her romance with Patrick's Kansas Chief teammate, Travis Kelce.
The pop icon is known to be friends with Brittany, 28.
“Promoting Skims while being friends with Taylor doesn’t sit right with me," one fan wrote about Brittany.
She said the Hulu star is doing whatever it takes to stay influential.
During her marriage with Kanye West, Kim was widely considered the most famous woman on the planet.
But a study by Authority Hacker, published last week, named Swift the most influential celebrity in America, suggesting she's stolen Kim's crown.
In an exclusive interview, Hemmings told The U.S. Sun: “Taylor Swift fans will be suspicious about Kim Kardashian's motives.
“If Kim pursues her efforts more fiercely, they will all backfire.
“Kim is also trying to prove that she is more influential than Taylor.
“She is trying to push Taylor's buttons because she knows she is unlikely to fight back in an outspoken way.”
Hemmings suggested Taylor would feel irritated by Kim's coordinated, ongoing stunts.
“The Mahomes collaboration was to muscle in," she said.
“Cute as the family looks in their outfits, this was designed to irritate Taylor.
“Kim is getting her message across that all is still not sorted between them.
"Taylor will still come out on top."
Taylor and Kim’s feud kicked off at the VMAs in 2009.
Kanye crashed the stage while Taylor was accepting the Best Female Video award, claiming Beyoncé should have won instead.
In 2016, Kanye claimed he had: "made that bitch famous," in a song about Taylor, called Famous.
In response to backlash, Kim shared footage of a call where it appeared Taylor had approved the lyrics.
When the full version was leaked in 2020, Kim was exposed for editing it. Taylor was in the clear.
Kim and Kanye’s divorce could have thawed 2022.
Swift's Wildest Dreams could also be heard in the background.
“These continue to be subtle attempts and prods by Kim, " said Hemmings.
"Having Taylor's voice in the background of her Insta posts would have raised a few eyebrows.”
PURPLE POWER
In July, Kim faced backlash for copying Taylor's flowing purple dress.
At a D&G event in Italy, she wore an identical gown.
Taylor's fans called her out and said: "She in her Speak Now era," before adding: "Speak Now (Kim’s Version)?"
Hemmings said: “Purple is an unusual enough color at the best of times.
"This was a deliberate and conscious move to rattle Taylor in some way.
“Kim is pretty considered in how she does this, but also anything in her life."
STRATEGIC SWAROVSKI
Kim’s most dazzling Skims collaboration was with the crystal company, Swarovski.
Creative designer, Giovanna Engelbert said she centered the collection around their Millenia necklace.
She also called it the "Taylor Swift necklace," since the singer had worn it in her Bejeweled music video.
“Here we have the blindingly obvious," said Hemmings.
“It is amazing to think that Kim was building the entire new Skims collection around a Taylor Swift necklace.”
CRYSTAL CONTROL
Taylor's sold-out Eras Tour has seen her sing tracks dressed in sequin bodysuits and bejeweled costumes.
The All Too Well star also rocked up at the 2022 MTV VMAs in a crystal-covered Oscar de la Renta mini dress.
Kim has since jumped on the crystal bandwagon alongside her.
Ahead of her Swarovski partnership, Kim emailed Engelbert, saying: "The sparkle and glamour of Swarovski’s crystals are so fun to me."
Kim's 2023 Met Gala look also saw her sashaying along the red carpet covered in strings of shimmering pearls.
This was similar to Taylor's dress at the 2022 MTV Awards.
Kim's 2022 Marilyn Monroe dress also featured six thousand crystals.
"Kim seems to need more than just her brand or Skims to keep her in the spotlight, " added Hemmings.
"This extended into what she is wearing on the red carpet.
"As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
"This all might look like Kim is paying a tribute to Taylor and as a compliment, but it is not."
Lacy Logistics
In 2021 Taylor was wearing plenty of black lace.
Her Rock & Roll Hall of Fame performance went down a storm, also given her attention-grabbing outfit.
Kim rocked up at the 2023 Baby2Baby Gala on November 11 decked out in the same look.
“Rarely we can look at Kim’s behavior and think it is just a coincidence," added Hemmings.
"This applies to her style choices and across the board."
BIG BANG
In January Khloe Kardashian, 38, posed for Sorbet magazine sporting new bangs and looking just like Taylor.
Fans commented: “I thought it was Taylor Swift lol.”
Another tweeted: "She's the biggest Swiftie.”
“Khloe is clearly in on this prank with Kim," said Hemmings.
“She was dressed up and looking so similar to Taylor.
"Even the most ardent of Swifties had to do a double take.
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“At the end of the day, it would be quite hard for Swift to come back on this one.
Hemmings added: "There will be strong reactions from Taylor’s fans to all these efforts by Kim."