Kim Kardashian mocks bar exam failure in energy drink ad

• Kim Kardashian referenced her bar exam failure in a commercial for energy drink Update
• Attorney Gloria Allred made a cameo appearance questioning Kardashian's legal credentials in the ad
• Kardashian joined Update as a cofounder in February 2026 during its brand relaunch

American media personality and businesswoman Kim Kardashian released a new commercial on Thursday for energy drink brand Update, turning her failure on the California bar exam into an upbeat marketing campaign across her social media accounts.

Business Insider reported that Kardashian, who became a cofounder of Update in February 2026 during its official brand relaunch, featured in the advertisement to address public curiosity regarding her busy workload and physical appearance. In the opening scene, Kardashian holds a mock press conference while sipping from an Update beverage can, explaining to attending reporters that her personal energy is different.

The commercial subsequently transitions to an art gallery setting where Kardashian sits displayed inside a glass exhibit case alongside a large stack of papers and a beverage can. Prominent attorney Gloria Allred appears outside the glass enclosure to question whether Kardashian ever passed the bar exam. Kardashian responds directly to the inquiry by stating that while she did not pass the examination, she raised the standard instead.

Kardashian was among the group of applicants who failed California's July 2025 bar exam, an official assessment where 54.8 per cent of the 7,362 candidates achieved a passing mark. Following the publication of her examination result, she posted on Instagram that she remained fully committed to her legal studies six years into her journey, having previously passed California's first-year law students' examination in 2021 following three unsuccessful attempts.

Other commercial enterprises have similarly transformed public setbacks or corporate criticism into marketing opportunities, including technology firm Astronomer hiring actress Gwyneth Paltrow as a temporary spokesperson and fast-food chain Burger King addressing operational flaws in an Oscars advertisement. Update did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the financial terms of the commercial deal. The venture represents the latest expansion of the business empire of Kardashian, whose net worth Forbes estimates at $1.9 billion, largely driven by her shapewear firm Skims alongside additional enterprises in skincare, fragrance, and private equity investing.