Kim Kardashian West is Being Called Out for Wearing Braids (Again) (2024)

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't mean you can culturally appropriate. Smh," wrote one Instagram user. "White girls love black girl magic," another commented.

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't 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'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."

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.