The other day I was on my way to work when I passed a newsstand that had Interview magazine displayed on the shelf. I saw Kylie ‘s picture in the wheelchair, raised an eyebrow and took my ass to work. 

Barely two days later as I was browsing my Facebook newsfeed I stumbled upon not less than ten articles bashing Kylie’s photo for being offensive and demeaning. I paused for a minute, and then I thought, “Who gives a shit about Kylie and this photograph???” So like a market researcher is supposed to do, I dug a little deeper. 

I found no real explanation about why she posed in the wheelchair, but I wasn’t surprised. The Jenner’s nor the Kardashian’s could justify 99% of the shit they do. They do what they want to do. 

However, what I found even more difficult to understand than Kylie’s photo were some of the critics. Judging from some of the comments made by people with disabilities, it’s as if Kylie was mocking or poking fun at them. However, I don’t think a person with a disability should even identify with the girl in that photo just because she’s sitting in a wheelchair. Kylie taking a picture in a wheelchair has nothing to do with people with disabilities. In fact, according to the census, most people with disabilities are not even in wheelchairs. 

Then, I went on to read a tweet by a woman with a niece who has Cerebral Palsy that said, “Let me show you what a real girl in a wheelchair looks like.” Attached was a picture of her niece, and, to be honest, I know a lot of “real girls in wheelchairs” that don’t look like her. All of us in wheelchairs look different! 

Others made comments about how “people with disabilities are powerless,” and Kylie’s photo perpetuates that idea. To the contrary, I’d argue the author of that statement is perpetuating that idea by even saying it. Some people commented that a wheelchair is like a prison, yada yada yada. A wheelchair is a mode of transportation. It’s not a choice for everyone, and that’s a fact of life for some of us. If Kylie wants to pose in a wheelchair, I could care less. 

Even further, by bashing Kylie and being uber sensitive to a stupid photograph, people with disabilities are closing us off to having open conversation about what disability means to each of us. I’m sure it has different meanings even amongst those of us with disabilities. Instead, we’re ganging up on Kylie and claiming this photo is taking a jab at people with disabilities, which just lumps us all together and segregates us further. We’re all just people. If that girl wants to pose in my chair, I’d let her borrow mine. No big deal. Now, can we live and let live?