Kim Kardashian-West Accused of Cultural Appropriation for Rocking Cornrows

After wearing cornrows to the MTV Movie & TV Awards this past weekend, Kim Kardashian-West is being accused of cultural appropriation.

Kardashian-West hit the MTV red carpet wearing a white crop top, embellished maxi skirt and black plaits that reached down to her waist.

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A post shared by Kim Kardashian West (@kkwarmy) on Jun 18, 2018 at 7:32am PDT

She was soon called out by both fans and detractors for cultural appropriation, defined as the adoption of elements of a minority culture by members of the dominant culture. In this case, a White woman is wearing a traditionally African hairstyle that many Black women are criticized for wearing in certain environments.

Holy shit @KimKardashian not ok ever in any way no nope no. What are you doing? You have power to positively influence and lift up marginalized ppl but instead you culturally appropriate and think you’re cute!? GTFO. #culturalappropriation #stopit https://t.co/uSTlG5JBMz

— Candice Felts (@Candice__Felts) June 17, 2018

Did you read my comment colonizer?! I said this particular braid style is called Fulani after the Fula tribes in West Africa! We as Black people have the right to call out cultural appropriation! The Black community is tired of colonizers telling us how we should feel!

— PHOENIX (@SOUTHERNGIRL157) June 18, 2018

It is cultural appropriation when black women are seen as ghetto and unprofessional for wearing braids but ole wanna be Kim K wears them on red carpets and it’s now stylish https://t.co/4e1bmzAvZx

— sy fye. (@ssssifi) June 18, 2018

There were some fans, however, who saw no problem with her style of choice.

@KimKardashian rocks this do! Cultural appropriation (CA) is so ridic. People just need to stop! Is it CA when black women sport blonde hair? Go Kim!

— Ma’at Tye (@MaatTye) June 18, 2018

People are really reaching at Kim k for having her hair in loads of braids saying it’s cultural appropriation. Lol I used to get the same style done like that whenever I went to Spain as a kid

— rachel turner (@rachchlo) June 17, 2018

Do you really know what cultural appropriation really is? In what way is she mocking black people by wearing braids? Did she specifically claim that someone else invented the braids or miscredit black people in anyway? No? Oh, ok.

— s t r e s s e d kermit (@DistressedKermy) June 18, 2018