Fans divided after Kim Kardashian wears $200,000 cross necklace famously worn by Princess Diana

The 44-year-old reality TV star, who is no stranger to wearing fashion history, donned the symbolic piece at the 2024 LACMA Art + Film Gala on Saturday (November 2) in Los Angeles.

Kim Kardashian at the 2024 LACMA Art+Film Gala. Credit: Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty

The Keeping Up With The Kardashians alum paired the large antique amethyst necklace with a stack of jewels, including a six-strand pearl choker, and a long white gown that showed off her cleavage.

This is a complete contrast to how Princess Diana wore it at the 1987 Birthright charity gala, an organization working to safeguard human rights during pregnancy and childbirth. The Princess wore the cross after it was borrowed by the Garrard jewelry company.

The late Princess of Wales paired the pendant with a black and burgundy Catherine Walker dress with a high-neck ruff. The gold, silver, amethyst, and diamond charm hung on a long string of pearls.

Many outraged fans have taken to social media to slam Kardashian for wearing the religious symbol with a gown that has a risqué cut.

“This is so disrespectful to [Princess] Diana and the church. M** can’t leave a religious relic alone without sexualizing themselves with it,” one fan commented. “At least show respect to the cross with what you wear,” a second said.

“Diana would have never dressed like that! That is not carrying on her legacy,” a third blasted.

Others were quick to slam the look as “blasphemy”.

Princess Diana wearing the cross in 1987. Credit: Tim Graham / Getty

But some social media users were quick to defend Kim. “With all due respect, she bought it and can therefore do whatever she wants with it,” one person tweeted.

Others were more turned off by the reality star’s ability to access these historical relics. “Why is she so obsessed with wearing dead or icon celebrities stuff?” a fan questioned, most likely referencing the time Kim wore Marilyn Monroe’s famed gown.

A second added: “I genuinely feel like Kim K is not the right person to honor all the timely pieces icon wore before because she genuinely has no respect for it other than gaining attention from wearing it.”

Kim Kardashian purchased the cross necklace in 2023. Credit: Michael Buckner / Getty

The SKIMS founder previously outbid collectors at auctions of clothing and jewelry worn by Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Jackson, and Elvis. She even caused controversy for wearing Marilyn Monroe’s iconic “Happy Birthday, Mr President” dress to the Met Gala.

Despite the backlash, it seems like Kristian Spofforth, head of jewelry at Sotheby’s in London, was excited after the mother-of-four gained ownership over the late royal’s necklace in 2023.

“This is a bold piece of jewelry by its size, color, and style which cannot fail to make a vibrant statement, whether it be of faith or fashion – or indeed both,” he said in a press release, per CNN. “We are delighted that this piece has found a new lease of life within the hands of another globally famous name.”