Kim Kardashian West is Being Called Out for Wearing Braids (Again)
Kim Kardashian West is being called out for cultural appropriation (once again) for posting a photo wearing Fulani braids.
On March 2, the reality star and mogul shared a series of images of herself on her Instagram. The pic featured Kim in a strange mummy-like white dress with no sleeves to speak of and sported her then-blonde hair in a braided style. Kim shared the photos writing, "Flash Back to my shoot with Vanessa Beecroft."
Though some fans were perplexed by the mechanics of the dress, many others were upset with Kim for again wearing Fulani braids, a protective hairstyle that originated with the Fulani people of West Africa. "Girl just because Black History Month is over doesn&apost mean you can culturally appropriate. Smh," wrote one Instagram user. "White girls love black girl magic," another commented.
Screenshot: Instagram @kimkardashian
Screenshot: Instagram @kimkardashian
Screenshot: Instagram @kimkardashian
Screenshot: Instagram @kimkardashian
Kim has landed in hot water for sporting braids before. She and her sisters have been accused of cultural appropriation for wearing traditionally Black hairstyles and misattributing them. Kim has worn this type of braids several times in the past, including in February 2018, when she called them "Bo Derek braids," and again at the 2018 MTV Movie & TV Awards, where she stirred up controversy after telling Bustle that though understood the significance of Fulani braids, she opted to wear them to “match” her daughter North.
"I actually didn&apost see backlash. 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 explained at the time. "But I obviously know they&aposre called Fulani braids and I know the origin of where they came from and I&aposm totally respectful of that. I&aposm not tone deaf to where I don&apost get it. I do get it."
In the spirit of matching with North, on March 2, Kim also wore a different style of braids to the Yeezy Season 8 presentation during Paris Fashion Week, which many people also called her out for. "Bruh why do you keep doing this? You think she’d learn. Put your hair up in a high pony and go to the fashion show like everyone else," someone commented when she shared a picture wearing the braids on Twitter. "WILL SHE EVER STOP??? YOU 👏 ARE 👏 NOT 👏 BLACK," someone else added.
But Kim isn&apost the only one accused of appropriating braided styles as of late. Earlier this year, Comme des Garçons sent its (mostly white) models down the runway wearing cornrowed lace-front wigs.
Braided styles have exploded in popularity over the past decade thanks to Black stars like Beyoncé, Zoë Kravitz, Keke Palmer, and Yara Shahidi, who have rocked their braided hair unapologetically on runways, in photoshoots, and on social media.
As Darian Symone Harvin wrote for Teen Vogue, “in the 2010s, we saw an influx of celebrities, creatives, and influencers wearing a variety of braided styles that put the artistry and tradition of hair braiding front and center [and they have become] one way Black people are unapologetically showing up as themselves in Hollywood, in media, and in the workplace.”
In 2020, seeing Kim Kardashian appropriate Black hairstyles yet again is disappointing but not surprising. At the time of writing, Kim has yet to respond to her latest controversy but we will update this story if she does. In the meantime, Teen Vogue has reached out to Kim&aposs reps for comment.
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Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue
