Larsa Pippen recently raised cultural appropriation concerns after wearing her hair in box braids. But instead of apologizing, she defended her decision.
The reality star was asked about her choice to wear box braids during a Real Housewives of Miami reunion special that aired this week.
“Watching the tease for the season, I noticed you were sporting braids in the Bahamas,” Andy Cohen told Larsa, reading a fan’s question. “Fashion-wise, you can pull it off. But do you think it’s really culturally appropriate? I think you’re going to get a lot of backlash.”
Larsa replied: “I mean, I’m not white. So I don’t know, my mom used to wear braids…My grandparents are Moroccan. My mom had braids when she was a kid. I’ve been braiding my hair every time I’ve gone on vacation since I can remember.”
Larsa noted that she also has a braider for her children, who are mixed.
“I have a braider who comes and braids my kids’ hair every 10 days,” she explained. “My son’s had braids literally for the last four years.”
Larsa said that if she’s going on a trip and doesn’t want to have to worry about her hair, she’ll also have the stylist braid it. “I don’t want to have to deal with my hair.”
Her castmate Kiki Barth then chimed in to say: “I feel like anybody should rock whatever they want to. As long as it looks good on you, I think we should just embrace it.”
The issue here is that some may see wearing braids as fashionable or trendy, when in reality, Black people have always worn them — and are often discriminated against for such hairstyles. But okay!! You can watch the reunion, if you want, now on Peacock.
