Kim Kardashian Defends Sporting Fulani Braids to MTV Awards and Straightening North West's Hair

The reality TV star sparked outrage when she showed up to the 2018 MTV Movie & TV Awards last weekend rocking Fulani braids, a look that had her critics throwing cultural appropriation accusations her way.

"I actually didn't see backlash," Kim told Bustle on Wednesday, though it should be noted there definitely was some. "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."

This isn't the first time her braids have led to online ire, as she famously referred to them as "Bo Derek braids" earlier this year, while she had blonde locks.

"I 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," she continued. "I'm not tone deaf to where I don't get it. I do get it."

She continued, saying that "in no way am I ever trying to disrespect anyone's culture" with the look, reiterating that her daughter was "so excited" when they got them together.

Speaking of North, her own hair got some major attention last week when she was photographed on her birthday with long, straight hair. Many (wrongly) assumed she was wearing extensions, while others took aim at Kim again for taking a flat iron to North's head.

"She wanted to try straight hair so I said she could try it for her birthday party and then if she liked it, she could do it in New York for her birthday," Kim explained. "It's very limited to just that. And she knows that."

"I think everyone thought it was this crazy pressed thing — I mean, I just used a flat iron and everyone was saying she was wearing extensions and I was like, 'No, she has curly hair, so that's what the length of her hair is when it's straightened,' she continued. "I was just seeing these things that [people were saying] online and they were just ridiculous."

Kim herself clearly loved Nori's experiment, tweeting out the photo above with the caption, "North serving LOOKS on her 5th birthday!!!!!"