Kim Kardashian’s surprising new career announcement sparks major backlash

Another day, another career change for Kim Kardashian.

Fashion designer, influencer, actress, trainee lawyer... now the A-lister is about to add another string to her bow, and it's safe to say it's ruffled some feathers.

There must be something in the water, as it comes after Nicole Kidman announced she's pursuing a new career that's a 'little weird' too.

Kardashian shared a post on her social media announcing the new direction, and fans were quick to comment asking her to reconsider with one begging her to "Stop, just stop!"

It seems the bright lights of Broadway are calling for the star, as she is set to work with the likes of Adrien Brody and Tessa Thompson for her debut, and will be working on a play called The Fear of 13.

Kim Kardashian is heading to Broadway for a surprising career move (Aeon/GC Images)

Kardashian will be taking on a producer role, rather than treading the boards herself.

The show is based on a true story about a man who spent more than 20 years on death row, after being convicted for rape and a murder that he insisted he did not commit.

The man, Nick Yarris, was released from prison on January 16, 2004.

Kardashian said "For the past decade, criminal justice reform has been a deeply personal mission of mine. I've seen firsthand how the system can fail, and I've committed myself to fighting for those who have been silenced."

She explains the plot, before continuing: "Theatre has a unique power to move us. When you experience a story like this – live – it stays with you. It challenges you to see the human being behind the statistics."

"Theatre has a unique power to move us. When you experience a story like this – live – it stays with you. It challenges you to see the human being behind the statistics."

"My commitment to criminal justice reform has always been about more than just policy - it's about people. I've learned that sometimes the most effective way to change minds is through a powerful story. The Fear of 13 is that story," she added.

The show tells the story of Nick Yarris, a man who spent 22 years on death row, and he will be played by Adrien Brody (Instagram.com/Nickyarris)

Kim has been studying to become a lawyer, and completed a four-year-long legal apprenticeship with the California Law Office Study Program.

However, in November 2025 she revealed she had failed her bar exam, and it also took her four attempts to pass her 'baby bar' exam back in 2021.

Theatre fans are unimpressed at the announcement, and her video has sparked a major backlash.

"Stop. Just stop. No one wants to see that," pleaded one, as another added "Why? Just why?"

"I guess she gave up on trying again to get her license to practice law," slammed one Instagram commenter.

One critic hit out: "Kim needs to stop acting like she single-handedly did this big prison reform program. She was just an apprentice — 18 hours a week max — and she couldn’t do any real work with inmates without a licensed lawyer present the entire time."

Kim previously played a leading role in Ryan Murphy's series, All's Fair (Hulu/Disney+)

They added: "She has never passed the bar exam and is not a lawyer. She literally couldn’t meet with prisoners on her own, it’s the same thing now with this Broadway show - she’s slapping her name on it as a 'producer' because of her 'prison reform experience,' but she couldn’t actually practice law or do the heavy lifting without real attorneys carrying her."

The commenter fumed: "Come on, Broadway. Do better. We don’t need another Kardashian name on a serious project just for clout. It’s misleading and cheapens the whole thing."

However some fans jumped in to defend her: "Y’all! She’s not going to be IN the show! She’s on the team that producing it. Y’all see a Kardashians and immediately start hating."

"Proud of you girl ! Keep raising up above all your haters. I just love it!" insisted another.

The producers of the show also defended her with a statement: “The message this play carries with it is urgent and we welcome Ms. Kardashian and her activism to this production and to our Broadway community. The work she has done to shine a much-needed light on criminal justice reform is exemplary and we are proud to be collaborating with her.”