CULTURE

Kim Kardashian Wore Cornrows Again, Despite Previous Controversies

She’s sticking with the hairstyle, despite the previous controversy.

by Elizabeth Logan

kim kardashian Alice Marie Johnson lead
Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images

Kim Kardashian West, no stranger to public scrutiny, stirred up a small (by Kardashian standards) controversy earlier this year when she posted pictures of herself on Instagram wearing her hair in Fulani braids, sometimes referred to as cornrows, but which Kardashian called “Bo Derek braids” after movie star Bo Derek, who wore the hairstyle in an iconic look from 1979 film10. At the time, many critics called out Kim (and her sisters) for cultural appropriation. At the time, Kardashian simply responded by posting another picture of herself in the braids with a caption implying she really didn’t care what the haters had to say, and it seems like she’s sticking to that attitude, because she just wore the hairstyle again.

Arriving at the MTV Movie and TV Awards on Saturday night, which will be broadcasted on Monday night, Kardashian walked the red carpet with her mom Kris Jenner, her hair in braids.

According to InStyle, there’s speculation online that the look is possibly designed to grab attention in the wake of the Carter family’s new album drop, or maybe it’s somehow an homage to Beyoncé, who wore a similar style in the “Formation” video. Both intentions seem unlikely, although we would like to know what, exactly, Kardashian’s motives were behind repeating a look so controversial in the first go-around, and when—or if—she’ll respond via social media. Of course, the family did just tease a new season of Keeping Up With the Kardashians, so maybe we’ll have to wait for that.

Related: Kanye West’s Latest Surprise Yeezy Campaign Is Very NSFW

CFDA Awards 2018: See What Kim Kardashian, Gigi Hadid, and More Wore on the Red Carpet

Kim Kardashian West at the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards at Brooklyn Museum on June 4, 2018 in New York City. Photo by Nick DeLieto for W Magazine.

Kendall Jenner at the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards at Brooklyn Museum on June 4, 2018 in New York City. Photo by Nick DeLieto for W Magazine.

Gigi Hadid at the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards at Brooklyn Museum on June 4, 2018 in New York City. Photo by Nick DeLieto for W Magazine.

Emily Ratajkowski at the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards at Brooklyn Museum on June 4, 2018 in New York City. Photo by Nick DeLieto for W Magazine.

Kourtney Kardashian at the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards at Brooklyn Museum on June 4, 2018 in New York City. Photo by Nick DeLieto for W Magazine.

Naomi Campbell at the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards at Brooklyn Museum on June 4, 2018 in New York City. Photo by Nick DeLieto for W Magazine.

Kaia Gerber at the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards at Brooklyn Museum on June 4, 2018 in New York City. Photo by Nick DeLieto for W Magazine.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley at the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards at Brooklyn Museum on June 4, 2018 in New York City. Photo by Nick DeLieto for W Magazine.

Irina Shayk at the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards at Brooklyn Museum on June 4, 2018 in New York City. Photo by Nick DeLieto for W Magazine.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen at the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards at Brooklyn Museum on June 4, 2018 in New York City. Photo by Nick DeLieto for W Magazine.

Cate Blanchett at the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards at Brooklyn Museum on June 4, 2018 in New York City. Photo by Nick DeLieto for W Magazine.

Issa Rae at the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards at Brooklyn Museum on June 4, 2018 in New York City. Photo by Nick DeLieto for W Magazine.

Martha Hunt at the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards at Brooklyn Museum on June 4, 2018 in New York City. Photo by Nick DeLieto for W Magazine.

Donatella Versace at the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards at Brooklyn Museum on June 4, 2018 in New York City. Photo by Nick DeLieto for W Magazine.

Anwar Hadid at the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards at Brooklyn Museum on June 4, 2018 in New York City. Photo by Nick DeLieto for W Magazine.

Sarah Paulson at the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards at Brooklyn Museum on June 4, 2018 in New York City. Photo by Nick DeLieto for W Magazine.

Lily Aldridge at the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards at Brooklyn Museum on June 4, 2018 in New York City. Photo by Nick DeLieto for W Magazine.

Diane von Furstenburg at the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards at Brooklyn Museum on June 4, 2018 in New York City. Photo by Nick DeLieto for W Magazine.

Amber Heard at the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards at Brooklyn Museum on June 4, 2018 in New York City. Photo by Nick DeLieto for W Magazine.

Lili Reinhart at the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards at Brooklyn Museum on June 4, 2018 in New York City. Photo by Nick DeLieto for W Magazine.

Brooke Shields at the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards at Brooklyn Museum on June 4, 2018 in New York City. Photo by Nick DeLieto for W Magazine.

Elsa Hosk at the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards at Brooklyn Museum on June 4, 2018 in New York City. Photo by Nick DeLieto for W Magazine.

Karlie Kloss at the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards at Brooklyn Museum on June 4, 2018 in New York City. Photo by Nick DeLieto for W Magazine.

Madeline Brewer at the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards at Brooklyn Museum on June 4, 2018 in New York City. Photo by Nick DeLieto for W Magazine.

Josephine Skriver at the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards at Brooklyn Museum on June 4, 2018 in New York City. Photo by Nick DeLieto for W Magazine.

Whoopi Goldberg at the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards at Brooklyn Museum on June 4, 2018 in New York City. Photo by Nick DeLieto for W Magazine.

Winnie Harlow at the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards at Brooklyn Museum on June 4, 2018 in New York City. Photo by Nick DeLieto for W Magazine.

Julia Nobis at the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards at Brooklyn Museum on June 4, 2018 in New York City. Photo by Nick DeLieto for W Magazine.

Tao Okamoto at the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards at Brooklyn Museum on June 4, 2018 in New York City. Photo by Nick DeLieto for W Magazine.

Kelela at the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards at Brooklyn Museum on June 4, 2018 in New York City. Photo by Nick DeLieto for W Magazine.

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