Kim Kardashian is facing fresh parenting backlash after North West showed off fake facial piercings in her new music video.
North, 12, the eldest daughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, became the center of another online debate after releasing visuals for her new track ‘#N0rth4evr.’ In the video, North walks through a graveyard wearing two stick-on piercings beneath one eye and another faux piercing near the top of her nose.
The look appears to be part of the darker, pop-rock style she is leaning into for her debut EP, also titled ‘#N0rth4evr,’ which dropped Friday, May 1.
The video uses distorted footage and horror-inspired visuals, with a clear nod to found-footage films like ‘The Blair Witch Project’ and ‘Paranormal Activity.’
Critics Went After Kim Kardashian
North’s look drew quick criticism because of her age.
“She is only TWELVE for crying out loud,” one commenter wrote, adding that they feared she would grow into “a seriously messed-up adult.”
Another went directly at Kardashian, writing, “Another reason why Kim is a disgrace as a parent.”
The backlash comes after North previously sparked controversy by revealing she had gotten a dermal finger piercing. At the time, critics also blamed Kardashian for allowing her daughter to experiment with body modification so young, with many raising concerns about infection and age-appropriate styling. This time, the piercings appear to be fake. Still, the reaction was intense.
North’s Fans Defended Her Creative Expression
Not everyone was upset. On Reddit, several users defended North and said she should be allowed to explore her own style and music.
“I’m happy for her!” one user wrote. “This sounds like something I’d release… if I had the ability to, so I’m happy she gets to express herself!” Another added, “I’m here for it.” A third commenter said, “I knew it was only a matter of time since she already had a song with Kanye. It’s still crazy to me that she’s only twelve.”
The debate quickly became less about one video and more about whether North is being given creative freedom or pushed too far into a public image before she is old enough to handle the scrutiny.
Some Fans Say Adults Are Projecting
One Reddit user suggested some of the backlash may come from adults who never had that kind of freedom as children.
“There’s a large portion of people who didn’t get the same freedom to express themselves growing up and were forced into a box,” the commenter wrote. The same user said they were not necessarily a fan of Kardashian or West, but liked that North appeared to be getting space to be creative. “I do love how they give her the room to be as creative and different as she wants,” they added.
North’s new track also leans into the public’s fascination with her background, with lyrics about growing up as a “nepo baby.” That self-aware angle may be part of why some fans are treating the music video as a personal expression rather than a scandal.
Still, the criticism around Kardashian is unlikely to disappear. Every time North debuts a bolder look, the internet turns it into a parenting trial.
