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Kylie Jenner Sparks Backlash for Wheelchair in Interview, Magazine Defends Against ''Media Scrutiny''

Reality star criticized by disability activists

By Kendall Fisher Dec 01, 2015 8:16 PMTags
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While Kylie Jenner's bare booty and risqué ensembles may be the biggest topic of discussion regarding her provocative, high-profile Interview magazine cover shoot, a lot of people also became outraged over the gold wheelchair she uses as a prop in several of the photos.

The 18-year-old reality star poses in the handicap device wearing some S&M-type clothing and accessories, looking almost mannequin-like as she stares off into space. Another photo shows her raising her leg provocatively.

Interview magazine explains to E! News exclusively of their decision to use the wheelchair as a prop: "At Interview, we are proud of our tradition of working with great artists and empowering them to realize their distinct and often bold visions. The Kylie Jenner cover by Steven Klein, which references the British artist Allen Jones, is a part of this tradition, placing Kylie in a variety of positions of power and control and exploring her image as an object of vast media scrutiny."

The publication adds, "Throughout the Art Issue, we celebrate a variety of women who are both the creators and subjects of their artistic work, and the Kylie feature aims to unpack Kylie's status as both engineer of her image and object of attention."

Though some are defending the publication, arguing that this has been done many times before in fashion history—remember Lady Gaga's controversial wheelchair performance?—many people still found the photo shoot shocking, taking to Twitter to slam Kylie and Interview for using the handicap device as a prop for the shoot.

Despite the outrage, Interview continues to promise that the purpose of using the wheelchair was strictly a means of expression and not at all supposed to be offensive to anyone.

"Our intention was to create a powerful set of pictures that get people thinking about image and creative expression, including the set with the wheelchair," the publication tells us. "But our intention was certainly not to offend anyone."

For more about Kylie's provocative photo shoot, make sure to tune into E! News tonight at 7 and 11 p.m.!