Disclaimer: This article contains opinions by fans of The Substance and an analysis of those opinions.
Current law school attendee Kim Kardashian recently shared her take on the surrealist psychological drama The Substance. She complimented the visuals for the film and how Demi Moore "looks amazing." But in what started as a rather shallow examination, set X (formerly Twitter) abuzz, with an onslaught of alleged shortcomings in overseeing much of the film's, well...substance.
A tweet from the official X account of The Substance (@TryTheSubstance) played into the moment, saying, "Yes, this is real," as they reposted Kardashian's story. This tongue-in-cheek acknowledgment opened up an avalanche of criticism, memes, and commentary from fans and film buffs.
One viral tweet from @Scope360Journal summarized the discourse:
“Kim really saw the deep message and said, ‘But did y’all see her cheekbones?’”
The incident reignited debates about how celebrities interact with art, with many wondering if Kardashian’s reaction is emblematic of a broader trend of surface-level media consumption.
Kim Kardashian’s reaction to The Substance simply focused on the aesthetics
Kim Kardashian's Instagram story, in which she lauded the visuals of the film and Moore's beauty, received much flak from netizens who thought her response missed the point. The film was praised for its existential dread and consumerism; much of it was said to have been lacking in Kardashian's comment.
Twitter user @realonx1 joked, implying Kardashian failed to engage with the film’s narrative.
“She watched the movie with her eyes closed😭"
Similarly, @jusigris observed,
“I love that Kim Kardashian’s takeaway from The Substance was that the visuals are amazing and Demi Moore looks hot.”
This criticism even led to a self-aware reaction from The Substance's account itself in response to Kardashian's take.
This irony wasn’t lost on netizens, with @BrainOnBravo noting,
“Her completely missing the point is so meta.”
The public persona of Kim Kardashian as a beauty influencer has also been associated with her reaction.
As @itsbritneyloh commented, “What insightful critique did you expect from Kim Kardashian’s Instagram story?”
For some, her post seemed like a miss, whereas it could've been used to discuss the movie's deeper commentary on modern life.
The Substance fans’ reactions have been mockery with a hint of cultural commentary
The Instagram story by Kardashian triggered public responses ranging from fun to biting criticisms. Some users noted the irony of her remark about the film's theme.
For example, @Moosey remarked,
“This [film] basically [is] a satire on the Kardashians’ lives, and they walked away thinking Demi looked good lol.”
Others took a more playful approach.
@FilmColossus quipped,
“I think you’re supposed to take the shrooms, not just sit in them,” referencing the movie’s symbolic use of psychedelic experiences.
Meanwhile, @leahmal joked,
“Classic Kim (...) Demi Moore’s glow is all that matters! 😆”
Even the timing of Kardashian's post incurred criticism.
@LilKittyZoey wrote,
"Girlie posted this like 3 mins into the film lmao," suggesting she might not have even watched the movie properly before calling an opinion.
Another user, @runtimeerror143, summed it up succinctly,
“She clearly didn’t watch the movie or understand the plot, lol.”
While many based arguments on Kardashian's superficiality, others suggested her response just shows the way most casual viewers consume media, which may be for aesthetics rather than depth.
Kim's take on The Substance speaks predictable volumes
The reaction by Kim Kardashian made for a bigger issue: how celebrities engage with and shape cultural discourse. The Substance's themes about consumer culture and the emptiness of appearances demand such responses at its core.
Director Jean-Pierre Faucheux has described the movie as a “mirror held up to society.”
In this context, Kardashian's response (and the backlash that followed) causes one to wonder if it was an extension of the critique film.
The question remains whether celebrities use these platforms to appreciate art or make it Instagrammable. In any case, the controversy has ensured greater attention to The Substance, thereby increasing its viewership.
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The movie is now available to stream on sites like Mubi and Amazon Prime Video.
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