Kim Kardashian closed out the Sunday matinee of The Fear of 13 with an emotional speech directed at death row exoneree Nick Varris, on whom the Broadway show is based.
The reality star, 45, looking resplendent on stage in a vintage Dior dress and sleek hairdo, appeared to fight back tears as she praised Varris for giving ‘everyone hope’ as the play’s headlining stars, Adrien Brody and Tessa Thompson, looked on.
‘To Nick, who I had the pleasure of meeting for the first time tonight, thank you for sharing your story,’ Kardashian told Varris, as seen in footage posted to Instagram.
‘It’s so important. You give everyone hope. You’re such an inspiration for me who fight for people who are deserving to be home. You’re beautiful, everyone here is,’ she added, glancing at Brody and Thompson on her left.
‘The power starts – it’s extremely important,’ finished the mom-of-four, who was joined at the event by her mom Kris Jenner and sister Kylie Jenner who brought along boyfriend Timothee Chalamet.
Kardashian, who has advocated for the release of prisoners she believes are wrongfully convicted since early 2018, is a co-producer on the production that premiered at the James Earl Jones Theatre on April 15.
Kim Kardashian closed out the Sunday matinee of The Fear of 13 with an emotional speech directed at death row exoneree Nick Varris, on whom the Broadway show is based, as the play’s stars Adrien Brody and Tessa Thompson looked on
The reality star and criminal justice advocate looked resplendent for her stage appearance in a vintage Dior dress and sleek hairdo along with lace up heels
The Fear of 13 is a drama that tells the true story of Nick Varris (Brody), who spends 22 years on Pennsylvania’s death row for a murder he didn’t commit. Through conversations with a volunteer named Jackie (Thompson), Varris’ intellectual awakening in prison begins. They confront the justice system, which leads to the overturning of his conviction through forensic DNA analysis.
After her short but heartfelt speech, Kardashian turned the mic over to Varris.
‘I am so grateful that I get to be the voice of so many people that have been wronged,’ Varris told the crowd.
‘A lot of people would never appreciate this about Kim,’ he went on with grateful glances at Kardashian. ‘This isn’t a social media moment for her. She saved Julius Jones’ life.’
He was referring to the advocacy role Kardashian played in the case of an Oklahoma man convicted of murder in 1999 and who spent over 20 years on death row while maintaining his innocence.
She didn’t get Jones released, but she helped to stop his execution and commute his sentence to life without parole in 2021 by bringing attention to his case and lobbying officials, as well as visiting him in prison.
Varris continued: ‘She’s put out there this energy of care and love. When I found out that she passed the mini bar exam – yes, that’s how price she is – she became my hero. Because she didn’t have to do that.
‘She dedicated a portion of her life to caring for people she might never get thank you from. In a crazy world when life of hers, come on man, please everyone,’ he concluded, encouraging everyone to applaud her.
‘You’re such an inspiration for me who fight for people who are deserving to be home,’ the legal eagle told Varris
‘You’re beautiful, everyone here is,’ she added, glancing at the play’s headlining stars Brody and Thompson
Kardashian looked aside in a show of modesty as Varris praised her, ‘A lot of people would never appreciate this about Kim. This isn’t a social media moment for her’
The SKIMS founder announced her role as a producer of the play two days before its Broadway premiere last month
Kardashian announced her role as a producer of the play two days before its Broadway premiere last month.
‘My commitment to criminal justice reform has always been about more than just policy – it’s about people,’ she said in a statement at the time.
‘I’ve learned that sometimes the most effective way to change minds is through a powerful story. The Fear of 13 is that story. It’s a raw, honest look at Nick Yarris’ wrongful conviction and the systemic failures that kept him behind bars for twenty years.
‘I couldn’t be prouder to make my Broadway producing debut with a project that carries such vital weight,’ she added.
