This centre is under investigation over a celeb's visit
It seems the moment the Queen of Reality TV met with a group of disabled children in Dubai wasn’t heartwarming for everyone …
The Dubai disability centre that hosted Kim Kardashian West during her whirlwind Dubai trip has been fined for hosting an unauthorised visit with the reality TV maven, and could face further consequences.
The 36-year-old spent time mingling with kids at the Rashid Centre for the Disabled this month during her brief UAE trip – her first public appearance since armed robbers broke into her Paris hotel in October.
A heartwarming video of the reality TV queen boxing, swimming and dancing with the children, as well as posing for the obligatory selfie, melted even the most anti-Kardashian of hearts after it did the rounds on social media.
However, now the centre is facing a “number of penalties” after not getting approval from the Ministry of Community Development for the visit, local newspaper Emarat Al-Youm reported.
Ministry official Wafa bin Suleiman told the paper the visit “had no goal from which students could benefit”, and Kardashian’s appearance undermined local values and violated regulations.
Authorities yesterday announced they were investigating the event, and a fine of an unknown amount has already been handed to the centre.
But it was possibly still facing further repercussions – including being forced to close, AFP reported.
The centre has since told media it didn’t have enough time to get ministry approval, and that Kardashian even requested they didn’t tell media about her visit.
But it seems even if they did file a request for authorisation, it would have been rejected anyway.
Bin Suleiman told Emarat Al-Youm the request would have been rejected as approval depends on “full commitment to the customs and traditions of the state”.
He also drew attention to the fact the centre didn’t get approval for children to be photographed – which is a big no-no.
Standards dictate that students with disabilities should not be exploited by “an act or activity by propaganda”, and should be allowed their “dignity and privacy”.
Having the children sporting T-shirts emblazoned with Kardashian’s face during the visit was also understood to have ruffled a few feathers.
Kardashian had since raved about her visit on social media, saying the visit to the centre was a highlight of her trip.
Kardashian was officially in Dubai for a very expensive, sold-out beauty masterclass, which took place at The Music Hall, Zabeel Saray on Palm Jumeirah, last Friday.
Thank you Dubai for the jet lag ?
A photo posted by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on
The disabled centre and Kardashian are yet to respond to requests for comment.
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