Skims, the shapewear brand co-founded by Kim Kardashian, is offering full refunds to customers who purchased its $148 (£110) Christmas advent calendar after fans criticised the product online.
The calendar, advertised on the Skims website as an 'Accessories Calendar', contained six scrunchies, six bobby pins, three hair ties, two hair clips, two headbands that look like bra straps, four key chains and a 'piece of rubber' with the Skims logo on it. Users on social media expressed dismay at the contents, which they considered poor value for the price.
Social Media Backlash
Videos criticising the advent calendar circulated online, with some gaining as many as 70 million views and 8 million likes. Viewers called the product “disrespectful”, with one user calling it “the worst calendar of the year” and another exclaiming, “this has to be a prank!”
Outraged fans were particularly active on TikTok, leaving angry comments under unboxing videos. Some questioned the calendar's inclusivity, with one user asking, “What if you’re bald?” The calendar promised “12 days of fun and surprises” but fell short of fan expectations. One TikToker said, “Kim cleared out her car” to stock the pricey calendar, while another angry purchaser wrote, “These are the items my cat has stolen and put under the couch.”
Company Response
Responding to the outrage online, Skims issued a statement explaining that they are “aware of the feedback some customers have shared” and are “listening carefully”. In a statement made to Entertainment Weekly, a Skims spokesperson said, “We understand that the calendar didn’t meet expectations, and we have personally contacted every customer who purchased the calendar and offered them a choice of a full refund or a SKIMS credit to put towards other products.”
Kardashian co-founded Skims in 2019. The company is estimated to be worth around $5bn (£2.9bn).
