‘Hunger Games’ Star Amandla Stenberg Criticizes Kylie Jenner’s Cornrows

Cultural appropriation has been a hot-button topic as late, and Kylie Jenner is the latest to be accused of the controversial phenomenon.

Cultural appropriation has been a hot-button topic as late, and Kylie Jenner is the latest to be accused of the controversial phenomenon. Taking to Instagram on Saturday (July 11) to post a mirror selfie, the youngest of the Kardashian-Jenner clan came under fire by way of Hunger Games star Amandla Stenberg. The 16-year-old actress, who plays the character Rue in the hit film series, blasted Jenner for allegedly “appropriating black features,” but failing to “help black Americans,” employing the #whitegirlsdoitbetter hashtag:

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Jenner took to her photo to write a response to Stenberg, bringing Jaden Smith (whom Stenberg is close friends with) into the mix:

The mention of Smith confused a few Twitter users, who pointed out that Jenner was at one point friends with the actor/rapper:

kylie told amandla to go hang with jaden like she was grown & they not all around the same age ... pic.twitter.com/u5066ToTgc — melanin momma (@tilllaaa_) July 12, 2015

When Kylie told Amandla to hang out with Jaden as a clapback but she dated him for the longest time pic.twitter.com/H3fXAkQS4u — sam is nsfr (@ovosoundziam) July 12, 2015

Kylie thinks she's above Jaden now that she has an older man. pic.twitter.com/dC7uRG7p3B — ??? ?* ???? (@GrandeLoyalty) July 12, 2015

Kylie think she's too grown for Jaden now??? pic.twitter.com/xlresKTgLU — Mo (@momoszn_) July 12, 2015

"Go hang with Jaden or something" pic.twitter.com/p39ZROxjK2 — 5 x 6 = 30....600mil (@thefentybarb) July 12, 2015



READ: ‘Hunger Games’ Star Amandla Stenberg Calls Out Cultural Appropriation Culprits

This is not the first time Stenberg has taken aim at cultural appropriation, however. In a video she made for her history class back in April titled “Don’t Cash Crop on My Cornrows,” the actress took a stance against the swiping of hairstyles, clothing, and music inspired by black people by the mainstream.

“The line between cultural appropriation and cultural exchange is always going to blurred, but here’s the thing. Appropriation occurs when a style leads to racist generalizations or stereotypes where it originated, but is deemed as high-fashion, cool, or funny when the privileged take it for themselves,” she said. “Appropriation occurs when the appropriator is not aware of the deep significance of their culture they are partaking in.”

Is Stenberg’s criticism of Jenner’s braids warranted? Watch her video below and sound off: