Kim Kardashian is shutting down criticism about how she raises her daughter, North West. After online fans questioned whether she is too lenient with the 12-year-old, Kim addressed the backlash head-on during a Jan. 21 appearance on sister Khloé Kardashian’s podcast.
“I think the one misconception people have is like, ‘Oh, she’s trying to be her bestie and lets her get away with a lot,’” Kim said. “Like, no. North actually has a lot of rules.”
She explained that while she allows North room to express herself through fashion and personal style, it does not mean there is no structure at home. “The one area is I do let her express herself, and I love her for it,” she added, joking that North would likely do it anyway.
Kim Kardashian addresses criticism over how North West expresses herself.
“I have pictures of her when we’re in first grade and pre-K, where she’d come with like a fake septum ring and she has her green braids and she has pink braids. But she’s always loved the colored braids in… pic.twitter.com/5NteSJjFvr
— Complex (@Complex) January 22, 2026
Kim also pointed out that outsiders rarely see the full picture.
“No one knows unless they’re in my shoes what I’m dealing with,” she said, referencing the pressures of raising children in the public eye.
The SKIMS founder shares North, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm with ex Kanye West and admitted her parenting has evolved over time. “My older two kids have devices. My two little kids don’t,” she said. “You learn as you go.”
Despite the backlash, Kim remains confident. “I have such a great relationship with my kids,” she said. “Every kid has phases, and we’ve gotten through all of that together.”