Celebrities issued warning about gift guides by publicist over expensive items

It’s become a bit of a tradition for celebrities to share their recommendations for gifts during the holiday season, with them promoting products to their fans ahead of Christmas.

Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner and other members of the Kardashian-Jenner family released their latest one through Kourtney Kardashian‘s brand Poosh just last month, for example. It features gifts priced from approximately £19 up to around £2,000, though listed in US dollars on its website.

The most expensive item on the family’s collective gift guide is an at-home sauna. Other products showcased include a board game that’s around £280, a blanket for approximately £100 and an ‘ice facial tool’ that is priced at around £19.

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The Kardashian-Jenner family are among the celebrities who have released gift guides this year
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NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)

Gwyneth Paltrow‘s brand Goop also has gift guides, with one promoting a 24 carat gold vibrator priced at around £12,000. Other examples include a teapot for around £370 and a meditation mat set priced at approximately £270.

Among its guides – which, like with Poosh, we’ve converted prices from into pound sterling – is one that’s dedicated to products under $100 (which is around £80). It includes a set of four chocolate bars priced at approximately £50. The list does contain less expensive items too, with the cheapest product being an ornament that’s priced at around £11.

They aren’t the only celebrities who have gift guides at the moment, with other examples including Oprah Winfrey and Reese Witherspoon through her production company Hello Sunshine. Some celebrities, such as Courteney Cox, have shared recommendations with media outlets.

There has been some criticism around gift guides, such as over some recommendations considered unaffordable to the average fan, particularly given concerns over wealth inequality and poverty in the US, the UK and elsewhere.

Gwyneth Paltrow has shared a series of gift guides through her brand Goop
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Getty Images)

Amid the release of yet more festive gift guides, the Mirror approached publicist and celebrity manager Mayah Riaz to get her thoughts. She said that while they are a “fantastic” opportunity for celebrities, they need to find a “balance”.

Sharing her thoughts, Mayah said: “Celebrity gift guides are a fantastic way for celebrities to engage with their fans and offer personalised recommendations. They allow celebrities to showcase their personal style and interests.”

She added about the opportunity: “It also creates a sense of connection between the celebrity and their fans. For some celebrities it can be seen as a way to leverage their influence by supporting brands they love or partner with.”

Mayah continued by telling us recently: “Thanks to social media, fans feel they can relate to celebrities and get to know them more. This is where celebrities can showcase grandiose and followers will still engage with them, even though the celebrity’s lifestyle is out of reach for their fans.”

Other celebrities associated with gift guides for the holiday season include Oprah Winfrey
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The Hollywood Reporter via Getty)

The publicist – who said that gift guides “should provide a balance” – told us: “The aim of a gift guide is to sell products as well as showcase brands which the celebrity might have a connection or liking for. It’s also great for positioning.”

“However, now it is more necessary than ever during a cost of living crisis to strike a balance with their gift guides. A balance of gifts from a range of price points by showcasing both luxury and more affordable options,” she commented.

Mayah added: “By solely promoting expensive products in gift guides, celebrities are at danger of appearing to be seen as tone-deaf and out of touch. This may perpetuate the perception that celebrities live in a world disconnected from their fans and creates a sense of alienation.”

Sharing her advice, she stated: “For any celebrities thinking of releasing gift guides solely featuring unaffordable and unnecessarily expensive gifts, I would urge them to consider their fans, who will vary in financial situations greatly.”

“Therefore, my advice to them would be to include a wide range of products of all different price points. By doing so, they will appear as being mindful of their fans’ financial situations,” she added, before issuing another warning.

Mayah concluded: “This will avoid them alienating fans, thus making them feel they are unable to relate to the celebrity. Actions from this one time of year can have a lasting impact on the image of the celebrity during the year(s).”