Last week, Kylie Jenner showed off a new, bright-red cornrowed hairstyle for her birthday. The reactions were, as you might expect, very mixed. Well, it looks like the family is keeping up with the tradition of controversial hairstyles, because Khloé Kardashian just debuted Bantu knots on Instagram — and the internet reacted similarly.
To Khloé's credit, her intentions seemed to be good when she initially captioned her photo "Bantu babe." But, according to Us Weekly, she deleted the original post and replaced it with one that read: "I like this one better." Many on Instagram and Twitter are accusing the 32-year-old of appropriating the traditionally Black hairstyle and not giving credit where it is due.
Let's not delete the photo + caption and re-upload BabyGirl. We got time today! @khloekardashian pic.twitter.com/amxVr8tVtf
— 11 • (@wordsbywanna) August 9, 2016
Black twitter would like to call @khloekardashian to the front of the congregation. pic.twitter.com/G0vKEzmLqR
— Im A Fermata-Hold Me (@MikeSceezie) August 9, 2016
Khloe kardashian got Bantu knots and I'm just waiting for E news to call it a "new hair trend" cuz we all know damn well 🙄🙄🙄
— Mr.Cus (@Mr_Vus) August 10, 2016
Others are simply offended by how poorly executed the style was (anyone who's attempted the 'do knows it's a hard-to-master art).
The bigger issue with Khloe Kardashian calling those things in her head Bantu knots is that they weren't even done correctly smh.
— jordan (@__queenpetty__) August 10, 2016
@khloekardashian you should ask Blac Chyna for tips on how to clean those Bantu knots up pic.twitter.com/KMtKwpVE7g
— The Broad-Cast (@WeTheBroadCast) August 10, 2016
This isn't the first time Bantu knots have been at the center of controversy. The website Mane Addicts misnamed the style "twisted mini buns" last year, and was swiftly criticized. As we've stated in the past, there's no problem with borrowing hairstyles from other cultures. The issue lies in the dismissal of context. It lies in repackaging a style as "chic" and a "new trend" without giving a nod to its history. During the history of Bantu knots, they have often been called "unprofessional" and "ghetto" — but only when worn by Black women.
There's a fine line between celebrating and appropriating a culture. A line that a certain reality-TV family is still constantly toeing.
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