Kim Kardashian’s “bad reputation” catches up with star on Gulf outing

Television celebrity Kim Kardashian brought out screaming fans and angry residents on Saturday when she visited Bahrain to launch a milkshake franchise, witnesses said.

A young Bahraini smiles after having his picture taken with TV star Kim Kardashian, in Riffa, Bahrain. (AP)

About 100 Bahrainis demonstrated with banners outside The Walk Bahrain, an upmarket mall in the capital Manama, after some MPs tried to block the visit over what they called her "bad reputation", according to a local newspaper.

Thousands of fans, who had paid up to 500 Bahraini dinars ($1,360) a ticket, broke into hysterical screams as the 32-year-old celebrity launched the Millions of Milkshakes franchise inside the mall.

Bahrainis wait for the arrival of US celebrity Kim Kardashian for the opening of a branch of the American franchise 'Millions of Milkshakes'  in Rifaa. (AFP)

Witnesses said police dispersed the demonstrators with stun grenades as the inauguration proceeded inside. There were no reports of casualties.

Kardashian stirred controversy even before she arrived in Bahrain from Kuwait, where she opened another store last week.

Kim Kardashian poses during the opening of a branch of the American franchise 'Millions of Milkshakes'  in Rifaa. (AFP)

Hardline MPs presented a motion to parliament calling her "an actress with an extremely bad reputation", according to Bahrain's English language Gulf Daily News.

The assembly did not vote on the motion, the newspaper said.

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