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A number of publications are calling the Wall Street Journal out on a recent ad it ran concerning the Armenian Genocide, or “1915 tragedy” as the ad put it.

The widely respected daily newspaper based in New York City also caught the attention of reality star Kim Kardashian, whose late father Robert Kardashian was of Armenian descent.

 

Kim, who visited Armenia about a year ago and “learned so much” about her family history while there, publicly denounced the advertisement in a blog.

On Wednesday, Kim wrote:

Money talks, and right now it’s talking shit. My family and I are no strangers to BS in the press. We’ve learned to brush it off. Lies make good headlines, good headlines make great covers, great covers sell magazines. But when I heard about this full-page ad that ran in the Wall Street Journal denying the Armenian genocide, I couldn’t just brush it off.” 

“The ad was paid for by Turkic Platform. I won’t list the group’s website, as I don’t want to give them the traffic, but basically they say that not as many people died as historians say, and that the Armenians were to blame. For the Wall Street Journal to publish something like this is reckless, upsetting and dangerous. It’s one thing when a shitty tabloid profits from a made-up scandal, but for a trusted publication like WSJ to profit from genocide – it’s shameful and unacceptable. Why is it that every time we take one step forward, we take two steps back?”

In a statement to Gawker, who also blasted the ad, the Wall Street Journal had this to say:

“We accept a wide range of advertisements, including those with provocative viewpoints. While we review ad copy for issues of taste, the varied and divergent views expressed belong to the advertisers.”

To which Kim responded:

“Advocating the denial of a genocide by the country responsible for it—that’s not publishing a ‘provocative viewpoint,’ that’s spreading lies,” she added. “It’s totally morally irresponsible and, most of all, it’s dangerous. If this had been an ad denying the Holocaust, or pushing some 9/11 conspiracy theory, would it have made it to print?”

Here are a few quick things you should know about the Armenian Genocide. Between the years of 1915 and 1917 (but mostly in 1915), approximately 1.5 million Armenians were murdered by the Ottoman government, or present-day Turkey, according to most reports. It is widely reported that ahead of the plot to exterminate Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire, there were 2 million Armenians there.

Turkey continues to downplay the horrific events that took place. Become more informed on the Armenian Genocide here. Thoughts?

SOURCE: Gawker | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty, Instagram

Kim kardashian Pens Blog Denouncing “Reckless” Wall Street Journal Ad  was originally published on globalgrind.com