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Kim Kardashian/Instagram

Kim Kardashian accused of culturally appropriating braids–again

'Kim Kardashian is relying on Black outrage to keep her relevant.'

 

Tiffanie Drayton

IRL

Posted on Mar 3, 2020   Updated on Mar 3, 2020, 6:30 pm CST

Kim Kardashian has been called out once again for rocking braids to her husband Kanye West’s Paris Fashion Week show.

On Monday, the 39-year-old reality tv star and mother of four sported a braided hairdo at the Yeezy Season 8 show. She posted photos of herself to her Instagram Story, igniting yet another cultural appropriation controversy online.

In 2018, Kim came under fire for sporting braids. She worsened the backlash by giving credit to a white woman by calling them “Bo Derek” braids. She has also been accused of wearing blackface many times. And most recently, she was mocked for even darkening her hands because “she refuses to be white.”

Many have not forgotten her past indiscretions and couldn’t believe that Kardashian has yet to learn her lesson–or she has and just doesn’t care.

“She real wack… she posted this and then popped up with braids AGAIN… Does she not get tired of stealing Black women? kim kardashian is relying on Black outrage to keep her relevant and it fucking shows,” one user wrote, along with a different photoshoot featuring Kardashian in the braids, which she posted on Monday.

Another urged her to at least “give credit where it’s due” if she’s going to continue imitating Black culture.

“My tweet was saying that she should know that people are going to attack her for her braids she’s been through this before so that’s why I said she should know better cause she’ll get criticized for it,” another tweeted.

https://twitter.com/marleyolivia_/status/1234940885026164741

Others–many of whom are white–defended Kardashian, saying she should be allowed to wear her hair however she chooses.

“Really annoying me how people are saying that she can’t wear her hair in braids because she’s not black, like ummmm what the hell guys,” Twitter user @Katieparkes02 wrote.

Another said that while they are not a Kardashian fan, they also think she should be able to wear the braids.

“Y’all act like the black police is gonna go over and ask her to surrender her braids lol. It’s just braids. Lots of girls do braids,” they tweeted.

For others, the problem was the unspoken double standard and Kardashian’s white privilege. Twitter users shared their personal grievances with the backlash Black people face when wearing black hairstyles, while white women are labeled trendy for wearing the same styles. Some even hinted at the institutional racism surrounding Black hair.

“Ok but when a black person wears braids it’s just hair as you said , but why some people aren’t allowed at school just cause of that?? Or some jobs??. Being discriminated , black or not because of hair is stupid but when it’s from sometimes cultural it’s even worse black hair,” Twitter user @Jhmxtata wrote.

This internet continues to be divided and embroiled in a debate, which is perhaps exactly what Kardashian wants.

“Ever notice how when no one is talking about Kim Kardashian for a minute she gets braids,” Twitter user @Huggaholic pointed out.

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*First Published: Mar 3, 2020, 6:29 pm CST