Kim Kardashian is having a rough week as she was called out by critics once again for cultural appropriation.
On March 2, the KUWTK posted a series of images on Twitter, with the caption, “Yeezy Season 8.”
She wore in a pair of grey pants, a crop top, and a jacket presumed to be full Yeezy attire. However, this time around, it wasn’t her outfit causing controversy, it was her hairstyle.
Kim Debuts Braids for Yeezy Fashion Show
To complement her outfit, Kim topped off the look with waist-length braids! And as with most Kim K posts, the backlash came soon after.
Yeezy Season 8 pic.twitter.com/HL1XP7e4qj
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) March 4, 2020
While the star received tons of compliments about her outfit, it was her hairstyle that had tongues wagging, with some ascribing cultural appropriation to her freshly done braids.
The cultural appropriation is strong with this one
— A. McNair (@mcnairx0) March 4, 2020
One user pointed out that her children might be biracial but she is not black.
BTW: in case u haven’t noticed, your children are bi-racial. You are not black, your mother is not black, and your father was not black.
— Mascheld (@feetrtired) March 4, 2020
Another user boldly said “You are not black”
YOU ?ARE ?NOT? BLACK?
— Misa Jaymes (@MisaJaymes) March 3, 2020
However, some fans also came to her defense.
One user made it know that Kim lives in a free country and can wear her hair any way that she pleases.
SHE ? CAN ? WEAR ? HER ? HAIR ? HOW ? SHE ? PLEASES!? That is the privilege of living in a *FREE* and *INCLUSIVE* country.
— Susanne Shaw (@marmitenot) March 3, 2020
Just one day ago, Kim posted a series of flashback photos from a shoot where she also rocked braids; and yes, people have commented on this as well.
The reality star is no stranger to the cultural appropriation controversy.
In 2018, Mrs. West defended her decision to wear Fulani braids to the MTV Movie & TV Awards, explaining the personal decision behind it to Bustle Magazine.
She explained, “I actually did that look because North said she wanted braids and asked if I would do them with her. So we braided her hair, and then we braided my hair.”
Kim K speaks on cultural appropriation
Kim also talked about the backlash she received the first time she posted herself wearing blond braids, crediting the style to actress Bo Derek.
Kim says of the incident,
“I [do] remember the backlash when I had the blonde hair and that I called them ‘Bo Derek braids.’ But I obviously know they’re called Fulani braids, and I know the origin of where they came from and I’m totally respectful of that. I’m not tone deaf to where I don’t get it. I do get it,”
She continued, “Maybe if I had come out and explained that from the beginning, instead of calling them ‘Bo Derek braids,’ then it wouldn’t have gotten such backlash. But in no way am I ever trying to disrespect anyone’s culture by wearing braids.
“If anything, my daughter was so excited to see me get matching braids with her. [When] we did her hair in these braids, she was so excited.”
Kim has not commented on this most recent backlash.