Elizabeth Taylor fans threaten boycott of new BBC doc about Hollywood icon as Kim Kardashian boards project

Elizabeth Taylor fans threaten boycott of new BBC doc about Hollywood icon as Kim Kardashian boards project

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GB NEWS
Alex Davies

By Alex Davies


Published: 30/01/2024

- 16:00

The US reality TV star will serve as executive producer on the series

News that BBC Arts and Oscar-winning production company Passion Pictures have teamed up to make a new docu-series about Elizabeth Taylor has been met with fury from several fans.

So much so, some social media users have vowed they "won't be watching" after discovering that divisive reality TV star Kim Kardashian was involved with the project.


With the working title Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar, the three-part series aims to "give Taylor the significance she richly deserves" following a rollercoaster life in the spotlight.

Kardashian will serve as one of three executive producers on the series as well as appear on-screen to share her insight into her friendship with Taylor.

The reality star has described Taylor as one of her idols and was the last person to conduct an interview with the actor before her death at the age of 79 in 2011.

Fellow actor Dame Joan Collins, school pal Margaret O’Brien, close friend Carole Bayer Sager and Dr Anthony Fauci are just four other names who'll provide their takes in the documentary.

Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra

Elizabeth Taylor BBC documentary: The Cleopatra star's life will be explored in the new series

GETTY

But despite the promise of a unique and never-before-seen deep dive into Taylor's life, it wasn't enough to convince some of the late actor's fans.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, in response to US publication Deadline's article about the announcement of Kardashian's involvement, one person wrote: "This is a disgrace @BBC."

An article from Variety garnered boycott threats as another person weighed in: "Guess what I won’t be watching."

And in response to Pop Base, another pleaded: "Stop cheapening Legendary starlets."

Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian backlash: The reality star's inclusion in Elizabeth Taylor doc has sparked controversy

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"No, absolutely not. This is disparaging to Dame Elizabeth Taylor," argued a fourth fan while a fifth begged: "Someone has to intervene..please...."

Meanwhile, another didn't mince their words as they said of Kardashian's participation: "This is a disgrace to the legacy of Elizabeth Taylor."

However, amid the fury was a number of people who defended the reality star's involvement, including one who argued: "It'll be fascinating to see how the series explores the life and legacy of such an iconic figure. Kim's involvement is sure to bring a unique perspective to the project."

And a second hit back at the critics: "Keep in mind that she was the last person to interview Elizabeth Taylor and Kim was the last person she followed on twitter. That’s her sister." (sic)

Elizabeth Taylor documentary

Elizabeth Taylor documentary: BBC project sees Kim Kardashian serve as executive producer

GETTY

Kardashian has had her say on signing up to work on the series, saying in a statement: "Elizabeth Taylor was unapologetically herself, a fighter.

"She is proof that you can keep evolving and changing and have different chapters in your life - and she paved the way for all of us who came after her with that blueprint."

Alistair Pegg, Commissioning Editor at the BBC, also shared a statement on the news: "This exciting series promises a new understanding of Elizabeth Taylor – both her technique and power as an actor, and her capacity for reinventing herself."

The release date for the series remains unknown for now.

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