Kim Kardashian wore braids and got slammed for cultural appropriation (again)
Kim Kardashian is no stranger to controversy, and her hairstyle at an awards show Saturday is ruffling feathers.
The MTV Movie & TV Awards were filmed this weekend, and Kardashian wore her hair in long braids.
The reality star shared a video showing off her hairstyle on Twitter, and people were quick to respond with cries of cultural appropriation.
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) June 17, 2018
“Isn’t this cultural appropriation?” one person responded to Kardashian’s tweet. “Your privilege is really showing,” another person tweeted.
Isn't this cultural appropriation?
— Akshita's reputation was always worse (@feminist__stan) June 17, 2018
it’s not cute to appropriate my culture. your privilege is really showing
— aasha (a-ä-sha) ♋️ (@deactivate__me) June 17, 2018
Some just straight up had no time for it.
i’m so sick of kim kardashian wearing these braids it’s like she’s doing it to piss off black people intentionally
— deijah (@deijwilliams) June 17, 2018
A few had some thoughts about parenting a black child while appropriating black hair.
funny how my japanese mother learned how to do box braids and micros on my hair and my sister’s hair and she never had the audacity to put those hairstyles on herself because she knew damn well.
Maybe non-black moms to black kids such as Kim Kardashian should take notes.— 🖤Mina🖤 (@minapeixes) June 17, 2018
OH so u can wear the braids but ur biracial kid has the pressed hair?? Ok Ms. Kim Kardashian pic.twitter.com/R6vCpx9XCK
— Shae. (@spookyshae) June 17, 2018
Still, there were plenty of positive responses to Kardashian’s video, too. One person called Kardashian a “goddess,” while another wrote that Kardashian’s hair was “absolutely stunning.”
Goddess
— 90210 (@YBSTXX) June 17, 2018
This is hardly the first time Kardashian has been accused of cultural appropriation. In January, the 37-year-old reality star posted a video on social media wearing platinum blond braids accessorised with white beads at the ends.
During the short clip, she says, “So guys, I did Bo Derek braids, and I’m really into it.”
Shortly after sharing, social media’s unapproving response to her new look was swift. The Shade Room reposted the clip and individuals commented: “Those are African braids” and “Bo Derek didn’t invent any braids, style are anything that has to do braids. Let’s clear that up.”
Unbeknown to Kardashian, she was actually rocking Fulani braids, a hairstyle inspired by the Fulani people of East Africa and West Africa and also worn by women of color for centuries.
Kim Kardashian got on Fulani braids and called them “Bo Derek” braids. These why culture appropriation trash. Also, how many times is that family gonna get dragged for them to stop appropriating other people’s culture. This why Beyonce don’t like her stiff lips ass. pic.twitter.com/Nd2NHt7aOB
— Storm 🌨 (@Yawldeex) January 29, 2018
Earlier this week, Kardashian found herself involved in a different hairstyle controversy, this one concerning her daughter North West. North was seen with what appeared to be straightened hair, and some Twitter users criticized Kardashian for apparently letting her daughter get her hair straightened at a young age.
Kardashian doesn’t seem to be concerned with any of the controversy though. After sharing the video, she shared Father’s Day posts in honor of her late father, Robert Kardashian, and her husband, Kanye West.
You’re so heavy on my mind. Happy Father’s Day to the best dad in the world. I miss you so much dad ✨ pic.twitter.com/xiW8eiFzyd
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) June 17, 2018
Happy Father’s Day babe. Thanks for being such a good dad to our babies! Shout out to all of the amazing dads out there! 💕 pic.twitter.com/Kps9MPlqzR
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) June 17, 2018
If Kardashian hasn’t learned from the backlash to her braided hairstyles in the past, it’s unlikely that anything will change after her appearance at the MTV Movie & TV Awards. But that doesn’t mean fans will stop pointing out what many see as the error in her ways.
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