Kim Kardashian West made headlines when she stepped onto the MTV Movie & TV Awards red carpet in fulani braids on Saturday, just months after she faced criticism for styling her then-blonde hair in cornrows that she dubbed "Bo Derek braids." Like so much on the Internet these days, the braids inspired a cycle: social-media outcry, followed by an apology or reversal, then backlash against the backlash in which defenders weigh in. In a new interview with Bustle, Kardashian West doesn't quite apologize, but she does offer an explanation as to why she continues to wear braids.
"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," she explained to Bustle.
Kardashian West chocks up the January's backlash to her misattribution of fulani braids."I [do] remember the backlash when I had the blonde hair and that I called them 'Bo Derek braids.' 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," she said. When she does choose to wear the style, Kardashian West says it's with respect to the history of fulani braids and a way of honoring her daughter's own biracial hair.
"Maybe if I had come out and explained that from the beginning instead of calling them 'Bo Derek braids,' then it wouldn't have gotten such backlash. But in no way am I ever trying to disrespect anyone's culture by wearing braids. If anything, my daughter was so excited to see me get matching braids with her. [When] we did her hair in these braids, she was so excited."
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