Kim Kardashian West Responds to the Backlash Over Her Cornrows

Earlier this week, Kim Kardashian West once again faced criticism of cultural appropriation after she showed up to the MTV Movie & TV Awards wearing Fulani braids. The controversy comes not long after she was under fire back in January for wearing her hair styled in what she called “Bo Derek braids.”

Naturally, myriad people on the Internet and social media spoke out about Kardashian West’s hairstyle choice, with many expressing frustration over the fact that protective hairstyles like these are deemed “cool” when a Kardashian wears them, but “unkempt” or “unprofessional” when a black woman wears them. As one Twitter user wrote in all caps, “For the thousandth time, what we’re mad at is that when Kim [or any white woman, for that matter] wears styles such as these…they get praised all the way around for it. But when black women do it…we get told that it’s unprofessional, or that we look unkept. Or that we’re a distraction. Not to mention that fact that they don’t even consider giving credit where credit is due…It’s honestly a triple slap in the face. That’s what we’re mad about nothing more, nothing less.”

On Thursday the KKW Beauty founder responded to the criticism in an interview with Bustle during her fragrance pop-up event in Los Angeles, saying she actually “didn’t see backlash” and “did that look because North [her daughter] said she wanted braids and asked if I would do them with her.” However, it’s worth noting that North hasn’t been shown with Kardashian West wearing the matching braided styles yet. A few days prior to the MTV Movie Awards, Kardashian West was also criticized for straightening the 5-year-old’s hair.

Kardashian West also told Bustle she chocks up January’s backlash to her misattribution of Fulani braids.”I [do] remember the backlash when I had the blond 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 said. When she does choose to wear the style, Kardashian West says it’s with respect to the history of Fulani braids and a way of honoring her daughter’s own biracial hair.

“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,” she said. “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.”

Maybe Kim is right, she wouldn’t have received such a backlash if she hadn’t credited Bo Derek. But…she did. It also didn’t make matters any better when she decided to post the photo on her Instagram with the caption, “Hi, can I get zero f-cks please, thanks.” That doesn’t exactly send the best message of her not trying to disrespect other cultures. In fact, as previously mentioned, her photo caption appeared dismissive and rude to anyone who felt offended by her hair choice.

Loading

View on Instagram

Kardashian West’s response to the latest matter seemed more like an explanation than an apology, which was met with mixed reactions on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/danadey_/status/1009790829240700928

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.

— XxMinaMelodyxX (@minapeixes) June 17, 2018

https://twitter.com/417_bee/status/1009453014741118977

https://twitter.com/UhHuhMika/status/1008297502049644544

i just saw a post that said “everytime kim kardashian don’t get attention she put in box braids” and i’m crying

— paprika (@chithegemini) June 20, 2018

While it can be argued that Kardashian West shouldn’t have to explain her hair choices, especially if they involve her daughter, the reality is that black women are put in these situations all the time—in many cases, we’re left defending ourselves at work or in school. Until these double standards are fixed, this conversation is going to continue to happen.

Related Stories:
-Sigh: Kim Kardashian Wore Cornrows and Called Them ‘Bo Derek Braids’
-Kim Kardashian Just Chopped Her Hair Into a Blunt Lob
-This Woman Re-created Kim Kardashian’s Perfume Ad to Prove a Point About ‘Perfect’ Bodies