Usually, when the Kardashians make the news, it's for something that makes us roll our eyes or mutter under our breath. This time, however, it's for a totally heartwarming reason.
Kim Kardashian, who has been known to campaign for criminal justice reform, has offered to pay five years' worth of rent for a man who has just been released from prison.
Matthew Charles, a former inmate who had served 20 of his 35-year sentence for drug and weapons charges, was released recently thanks to new prison reform laws that put a cap on time served for non-violent crimes. While Charles was delighted to have his freedom, however, he found himself at a loose end when his applications for housing got denied.
And that's where Kim K stepped in.
"I just received the most wonderful news tonight that I just had to share with everyone," Charles wrote on Facebook this weekend. "Kim Kardashian-West heard about my situation. Was moved and has decided to help me. And to me in an unbelievable way."
He continued:
"Kim did not do this for attention or publicity, but I had to share it, because it's too good not to, and my heart is about to burst with happiness, that I wish you to rejoice in this news with me. And many of your responses about the outcome of my dilemma prophesied it.
THANK YOU KIM KARDASHIAN-WEST and TRACY FOR THE LOVE SHOWN TO ME WHEN I WAS LOCKED UP. AND NOW THAT I'M FREE... MY HEART IS ENLARGED."
Charles had actually been released before back in 2016, under the Fair Sentencing Act, which "eliminates the five-year mandatory minimum prison term for first-time possession of crack cocaine". However, an appeals court overturned the decision to grant him his freedom, and he was sent back to serve more of his sentence.
This time around, he has managed to make significant progress since being let out, and has even got himself a job and bought a vehicle. His residence was proving to be a problem, though, and he had been relying on the generosity of friends to let him crash at their houses.
Now, that won't be a problem.
And this is not the first time that KKW has taken a personal interest in criminal justice. Last year, she travelled to Washington DC in order to speak with President Trump about Alice Johnson: a woman who was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for a first-time drug offence. After the two of them spoke, Johnson was freed.
On top of that, she helped lobby for the First Step Act, which was passed in December last year. The act plans to reduce federally mandated minimum prison sentences, and prevent people like Charles and Johnson from serving long sentences for relatively harmless crimes.
Charles has reportedly said that he will use the next five years to save up for a place of his own, and is incredibly grateful to Kim K for her selfless act of kindness.
