What Lasting Connection Did Kim Kardashian Have with Elizabeth Taylor?
“I was always drawn to Elizabeth Taylor,” Kim Kardashian shares, revealing her unique bond with the iconic actress. Kardashian had the privilege of conducting the last published interview with Taylor before her passing in 2011. This significant conversation, featured in Harper’s Bazaar, included a photoshoot inspired by Taylor’s illustrious role in the 1963 film Cleopatra.
“We were supposed to meet for tea at her house, and then she fell ill,” Kardashian recalls. Instead of an in-person meeting, the two arranged to speak over the phone, which profoundly impacted Kardashian.
What Was Taylor's Philosophy on Life?
What struck Kardashian the most was Taylor’s perspective on life. “We were talking about fighting for people,” she reflects. “She understood her power and her beauty.” Kardashian, who boasts over 360 million followers on Instagram and rose to fame through the reality TV series Keeping Up With the Kardashians, currently serves as an executive producer on a series celebrating Taylor’s legacy.
“There’s so many young people I want to remind or even teach them about who she is,” Kardashian emphasizes. She aims to “ensure” that Taylor’s legacy inspires future generations.
What Was Taylor's Remarkable Career Like?
Born in 1932, Elizabeth Taylor was a fixture in the public eye for most of her life. She moved from England to Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, at just seven years old and made her film debut in National Velvet at 12. Taylor later became the first actress to sign a million-dollar contract for a single film with Cleopatra. Her romantic involvement with co-star Richard Burton ignited a media frenzy, further solidifying her status as a cultural icon.
“She was candid about her love life, and she would fall in and out of love,” Kardashian notes, adding, “She loved love.” Taylor’s eight marriages—two of which were to Burton—were heavily publicized, highlighting the star’s tumultuous yet passionate romantic life.
How Did Taylor Champion AIDS Awareness?
In the 1980s, Taylor used her fame to advocate for AIDS patients, a cause that resonates deeply with Kardashian. “What moved me [is] how she would fight for voiceless people and how she was so passionate about it,” Kardashian states.
Taylor co-founded the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) in 1985, just a month before the death of her close friend Rock Hudson from an AIDS-related illness. She played a crucial role in persuading U.S. President Ronald Reagan to address AIDS at a fundraising dinner, breaking years of silence on the issue. Taylor even sold exclusive photos from her eighth wedding to establish the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation in 1991.
Kardashian finds Taylor’s activism particularly inspiring. “The main thing is that she just did not care,” she says. “The scrutiny was worth the help that she was able to accomplish.”
How Does Kardashian Draw Inspiration for Her Advocacy?
Kardashian parallels Taylor’s activism and her work in prison reform. In 2018, she met with Donald Trump to discuss the issue and advocated for the release of Alice Johnson, a great-grandmother imprisoned for over two decades. In April, she engaged in discussions with Kamala Harris regarding pardons issued by President Joe Biden.
“I know that when I do prison reform work, and people think it’s too, maybe, crazy of a topic to get involved in, you just think of her,” Kardashian explains, highlighting the motivation she derives from Taylor’s fearless approach to advocacy.
What Personal Connections and Cherished Memories Did Kardashian Have with Taylor?
Kardashian also has personal connections with Hollywood stars. “I would always hear a lot about Elizabeth Taylor,” she reveals, sharing that she once dated a nephew of Michael Jackson. The nephew had beautiful paintings of Taylor in his home, reflecting their close friendship.
Kardashian fondly recalls Taylor gifting her a bottle of her signature White Diamonds perfume, stating, “I will cherish that forever.” She also admires Taylor’s legendary jewelry collection, which inspired her own. “Some of the items in her collection were named after her relationships, like the Mike Todd tiara and the Taylor-Burton diamond,” Kardashian notes. “I just thought that was so fun and inspiring. There was a time when I stopped wearing jewelry for a while, and then I think of her; she was so unapologetically herself, and I love that.”
What Legacy Does Kardashian Want to Share?
As she anticipates the release of the documentary series, Kardashian feels a sense of pride. “My sisters, my mom, my grandma, my mom, and my grandma want to watch it. That makes me proud—when every generation wants to see it.”
“I just really want people to understand that she was everything,” Kardashian concludes. “She could be the glamorous actress having a hard time and going through health issues, and then she can also be the strongest activist.”
