Northwest recently made headlines with her Hollywood Bowl debut, but it wasn’t exactly a triumph. Watching her struggle on stage, it’s hard not to wonder if her famous parents, Kim and Kanye, used their connections to secure this role. This kind of nepotism is nothing new—celebrities often pull strings to land roles for their kids, and it seems Northwest has benefitted from this.
Right now, the Kardashians are facing criticism, especially when it comes to how they push their family’s narrative. Northwest’s performance in “The Lion King” was underwhelming, with noticeable issues in both rehearsal and singing. It’s a tough situation because, as a child, she’s not responsible for the outcome. However, it raises questions about a system where connections can overshadow genuine talent.
Instead of jumping straight into a big venue like the Hollywood Bowl, it might have been better for Northwest to start with smaller, local performances. It would have given her a chance to build skills and experience before taking on such a high-profile role.
For more insights and discussions on these topics, check out the “Let’s Get Into It” podcast. We dive into issues like nepotism and the impact of celebrity connections on opportunities. You can find the podcast linked in the description below.
North West made a splash with her Hollywood Bowl debut, performing “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” at The Lion King 30th Anniversary Concert. However, I couldn’t help but feel a bit unsettled by the performance. It’s not just because she’s North West; my own acting background influences my perspective. I did acting for a few years during middle and high school, and one thing that stood out to me was the importance of facing the audience. North kept turning side to side, which I assume was due to her outfit making it hard for her to see where she was going. This shifting affected her stage presence, which is crucial for a compelling performance.
The concert was a big family event, with Kanye West, Kris Jenner, Kourtney Kardashian, and Travis Barker all in the audience. The Kardashian-Jenner crew was fully supportive, with Kanye filming the whole performance and giving North a standing ovation. Kris Jenner cheered her on with a “You’re doing great, sweetie,” and Kim Kardashian shared some behind-the-scenes glimpses on Instagram. One photo showed North helping Chicago with her hair, accompanied by the caption, “Never too busy to do her sister’s edges.”
So, how did North do on stage?
“Okay, the enemies beware. Well, I’ve never seen a king of beasts with quite a little hat. I’m going to be the main event like no king was before. I’m rushing up on—”
To be honest, her performance felt like a typical 10-year-old’s—cute but not particularly inspiring. She seemed to be walking around the stage without much movement or dancing, which was a bit disappointing.
It’s giving JoJo Siwa vibes—why does it feel like that when she’s in the studio or belting it out in the car?
North performed “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” at a recent event, and it didn’t go over well. A lot of people are calling it a classic case of nepotism. For those who might not know, nepotism is when people in power give special treatment to their friends or family, often leading to them getting opportunities they might not actually earn. In Hollywood, this often means that connections rather than talent decide who gets what role, like how Northwest landed the part of Simba. Whether it was Kris Jenner or Kim pulling the strings, it’s clear many feel she got the role because of her family, not because of her performance.
It’s got to be tough for Northwest to face this kind of criticism, especially since this is probably her first real taste of it. Before this, her performances, mostly with her dad, usually got rave reviews. This time, though, people aren’t holding back. Instead of praise, she’s getting slammed for not deserving the stage—both because of her family connections and the performance itself. There were plenty of talented kids who auditioned, but Northwest got the role through her family’s influence.
I don’t think a 10-year-old deserves to be bullied, but it’s interesting to think about how she’ll handle this. She’s likely to see the online reactions. Will she avoid similar performances in the future to steer clear of the “nepo baby” label, or will she, like her mom, just brush it off?
One comment hit the nail on the head: “Northwest might do great in a high school production of ‘The Lion King,’ but for a big anniversary concert, it felt a bit off. The nepotism was clear, and it showed in the lack of rehearsal. This whole thing felt more about the parents than about her. It’s a reminder that sometimes, who you know can be more important than what you can do. We see it in real life, and it’s no different here.”
I really love YouTube for how it’s allowed me to build my own platform from the ground up, especially since I don’t have any connections in the industry. With your support and my community behind me, I’ve managed to make it work. Now that I’m starting to meet people in the industry, it’s clear that a lot of them come from privileged backgrounds or have strong connections. I’m definitely not one of those people—no trust fund here! It’s not that I’m bitter; I know many of them work hard, but it’s obvious some people just got a big financial boost.
Take this Twitter comment, for example. Someone said that casting Northwest in a Disney classic was a huge mistake because it took away from the movie’s integrity. They pointed out how many talented kids, like those who played Simba or Nala in “The Lion King” on Broadway, put in the hard work and deserved a shot. Instead, it felt like the role went to someone with connections. I don’t mind famous kids getting opportunities, but it seems like a hardworking theater kid should have been considered.
Another tweet put “nepotism” next to “the Kardashians” for a reason. Some people acknowledged that Northwest looked great and seemed to have a good time, but they couldn’t ignore that her presence was likely due to her parents’ influence. One person even mentioned how she seemed lost on stage, probably because she didn’t get the same rehearsal time as the others. It was clear that she hadn’t put in the same effort, and it showed compared to the hardworking cast around her.
When you see a lead who’s really underperforming because their performance was just okay—not terrible, but not outstanding—it’s hard not to notice. People are posting videos of their own kids doing the same thing and saying, “Look at my 8-year-old. They performed this song in a smaller production and crushed it.” It’s clear that they could have found someone with more talent for the role.
So now we’re trying to figure out how Northwest ended up with this part. There’s talk that Kim might have pulled some strings to get her daughter the role. A source told the Daily Mail that the Kardashian family’s close ties to the producers played a big role. Apparently, North didn’t have to compete for the part—she was basically handed the role. Given that “The Lion King” at the Hollywood Bowl is a huge deal and that the Kardashians are also involved with Fullwell 73 Productions, it seems like they had a strong pitch. The Kardashians were likely hoping to generate some buzz, which they did. But North didn’t have to audition, meaning others who did didn’t even stand a chance. The source said, “This is 100% because of her family’s connections with Disney and Fullwell.”
Another insider mentioned that the family planned to use this moment on their reality show, which made it a win-win for the production company. Sure, it’s nepotism, but it’s a bit more complex than that. In every movie, play, or pop culture event, casting often favors those with fame or connections, even if their talent isn’t exceptional. I’m not saying anything negative about Northwest—I haven’t seen her performance myself. But let’s face it, famous people are often cast because their fame helps sell tickets.
North’s recent performance has been getting a lot of attention, not just for her on-stage presence but also for her costume. The outfit—a sweatshirt with a furry hood and slippers—looked pretty underwhelming compared to the more polished looks of the other performers. A spokesperson revealed that North’s costume was outsourced and not designed by the production’s team, which likely explains why it didn’t match the overall aesthetic of the show.
Kim Kardashian hasn’t directly addressed the criticism but has shared multiple photos of North in her costume on social media. It seems like North’s outfit might have been custom-made, potentially including a pricey yellow shearling coat. However, it was clearly not aligned with the production’s wardrobe, which some feel disrespected the theater’s standards. Whether it was North’s choice or Kim’s, the costume stood out for the wrong reasons, making it look more like something from a low-budget high school play.
I’m curious to see how this situation develops and whether North will have more say in her future public appearances. She’s at an age where she might start to understand and react to public feedback, which could influence future decisions. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
Now, let’s check out this PO Box package from Rumpy. I open PO Box items on my channel when I get them, though sometimes it can take a while depending on how many I receive and the processing time.
There’s no letter, but let’s see what’s inside. Oh, looks like it might be underwear or something similar. How cute! Or maybe shorts? I love the name Rumpy—makes me think of a bulldog I’d like to name Rumpy someday. These items look adorable, so I’m excited to check them out.
Wow, thanks so much, Rumpy! The logo is really cute, and the fabric feels great. It seems like a whole outfit, and I’m looking forward to trying it on. I’ve been posting more on Instagram and TikTok lately, and these will be perfect for that.
The items are super comfy and well-made. The material is 95% bamboo and 5% spandex, which is nice. I appreciate the quality, and the purple accents are lovely. Thanks again, Rumpy! I’ll link them below because they really are top-notch. The little details, like the opening on the undies, are adorable.