Kim Kardashian Denies Cultural Appropriation & Blackfishing Allegations

BY Erika Marie 7.6K Views
Link Copied to Clipboard!
ANGELA WEISS / Contributor / Getty Images
Kim Kardashian
She says she "would never do anything to appropriate any culture" while reminding people that "there's also a history of braiding hair in Armenia."

Throughout the entirety of her career, Kim Kardashian has been hit with criticism from all directions. Yet, a steady stream of backlash that she has received comes from those who have accused her of cultural appropriation and Blackfishing. The model mogul has faced accusations of taking from Black culture, especially with her fashion style and hair, without crediting where those ideas have come from, and she finally speaks her piece regarding the controversy. 

Kardashian recently caught up with i-D magazine, and inside, she was asked about facing those Blackfishing criticisms while being the mother of four Black children.

Pierre Suu / Contributor / Getty Images

"I would never do anything to appropriate any culture," said the Skims icon. "But I have in the past got backlash from putting my hair in braids and I understand that. Honestly, a lot of the time it comes from my daughter asking us to do matching hair. And I’ve had these conversations with her that are like, 'Hey, maybe this hairstyle would be better on you and not on me.' But I also want her to feel that I can do a hairstyle with her and not make it that big of a deal either if that’s something that she’s really asking for, and really wants."

"But I’ve learned and grown over the years, and figured out good ways to communicate with all my kids about all this," she continued. "I’ve definitely learned over time, and I’ve tried to pass that culture of learning onto my kids too, but then there’s also a history of braiding hair in Armenia, and people forget that I am Armenian as well."

Marc Piasecki / Contributor / Getty Images

Elewhere, Kardashian also spoke about her law school journey. We previously reported on Kim sharing the news that she finally passed her baby bar law exam after prior failures and Kardashian expressed that her heart is to genuinely help those who have faced injustice.

"Law school is a long process and it’s a lot of work," she said. "I’m two years into it and I hope that after school is done, I can just focus on… It’s not really going to change the work that I do, but maybe I’ll have free time to help more people. I really just love that I can use my voice and advocate for people that can’t help themselves, and that sometimes don’t know where to turn and are just helpless and hopeless. I hope that I can really help where I can and make a difference."

MANDEL NGAN / Contributor / Getty Images

[via]


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.