Controversy Erupts: North West’s “Lion King” Performance Under Fire for Alleged Nepotism.
10-year-old North secured the prized part of Young Simba in The Lion King. She dazzled the audience at the Hollywood Bowl during the 30th-anniversary concert. Her rendition of “I Just Can’t Wait To Be King” quickly gained internet fame.
North West debuted her acting skills as Young Simba at The Lion King’s 30th Anniversary concert on Friday. However, critics online targeted the 10-year-old, claiming she only got the opportunity because of her famous parents.
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, who were present at the concert, watched proudly as their eldest child took the stage at The Hollywood Bowl to perform “I Just Can’t Wait To Be King.”
North received a standing ovation from the crowd after delivering her performance.
Yet, certain individuals on X (formerly Twitter) voiced their opinions about Kim and Kanye’s daughter landing a prominent role in the concert.
One remarked: ‘Being born into nepotism is like hitting the jackpot,’ while another commented, ‘This is the epitome of nepotism.’
Another user wrote, ‘The Kardashians are practically synonymous with nepotism,’ accompanied by laughing emojis.
“Nepotism is just wild lol,” one commented. “There are probably kids out there who are more talented in singing and dancing but didn’t get the chance because their families aren’t famous enough.”
Another social media user expressed, “She looks amazing and appears to be having a blast, but let’s not overlook the fact that she’s only there because of her parents’ fame. It’s a prime example of classism!”
Yet another added, “Oh man… I sympathize with the genuinely talented kids who missed out on this opportunity.”
“I bet her mom’s influence (or money) is the sole reason she landed this leading/singing role,” remarked another.
Another individual added, “It bothers me that she got this role solely because of her parents.”
“There’s a kid out there with genuine talent who deserved this opportunity. And no, I’m not a hater; I actually like the Kardashians.”
It’s uncertain whether North went through a standard audition process. DailyMail.com has reached out to a Kardashian representative for clarification.
Earlier this month, it was announced that North would be participating in the live-to-film concert event, which took place over two nights on May 24 and May 25. Notably, the Hollywood Bowl can accommodate up to 17,500 people, and ticket prices for the concert started at $60.
North shared the stage with a lineup of stars including Jennifer Hudson, Billy Eichner, Bradley Gibson, Ernie Sabella, Jason Weaver, Jeremy Irons, and Nathan Lane.
Kanye West attended the concert to support his daughter, along with Kris Jenner, Kourtney Kardashian, and her husband Travis Barker.
Kim watched North’s performance from backstage and shared photos on her Instagram Stories, including shots of their all-access passes and character-themed cupcakes.
She expressed gratitude to Kris and grandmother Mary Jo ‘MJ’ Campbell for sending flowers, posting a video of the vibrant arrangements.
Later, the SKIMS founder posted a clip of herself watching the concert with her six-year-old daughter, Chicago, nestled on her lap.
The TV personality also captured a moment of North tenderly combing her younger sister’s hair backstage.
She then joined some of the other cast members for photos during the concert, including one with the actor portraying Zazu. North also beamed alongside Jason Weaver in a memorable snapshot.
On Sunday, the mom of four posted additional behind-the-scenes snapshots on her Instagram stories, including one featuring North alongside Jennifer Hudson, with the caption “The Queen @iamjhud” at the bottom.
She also shared an image of a Lion King-themed bouquet adorned with small studded animals representing characters from the movie.
Kim captured a moment of North beaming with excitement as she mingled backstage with members of the cast.
North received a standing ovation for her performance of “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” from the 1994 Walt Disney animated film.
The young performer opted for a casual twist on the typical Broadway attire, sporting a yellow hoodie and matching shorts with a fuzzy hood and slippers.
North made her acting debut following the announcement of her first album, “Elementary School Dropout,” in March, paying homage to her father’s debut album, “The College Dropout,” released in 2004.
She also featured on ‘Talking / Once Again’ from ‘Vultures 1,’ a collaborative album between Ye and Ty Dolla $ign.
This track made North one of the youngest artists ever to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, debuting at No. 30 in February.
Despite her acting debut at the Hollywood Bowl on Friday night, North is no newcomer to the stage, thanks to her collaborations with her father.
She has frequently performed alongside Kanye at various album release events for Vultures 1, including shows in Miami in December and Paris in February.
The budding musical artist, along with her siblings Chicago, six, and Psalm, five, also shared the stage with their father at the Rolling Loud Festival in California this past March.
North has spoken openly about her love for singing, gracing the cover of i-D last October. She explained that performing is her favorite thing to do and that her passion primarily comes from within herself, with a touch of influence from her dad.
