Kim Kardashian has been slammed for straightening North West's hair

Kim Kardashian is known for dividing opinion with unique aplomb. Whether she's posting risqué images on Instagram, or housing her new $60 fragrance in a bottle made from a mould of her nude torso (by and by "breaking the internet") people are bound to have an opinion on it. And predictably, her latest social media post has got people up in arms too - but this time for a rather different reason.

The 37-year-old and her longtime friend, Jonathan Cheban, took out North West to Dylan's Candy Bar in New York yesterday. And while Kim wore natural-looking curls, her five-year-old sported a high ponytail with a long straightened mane á la Ariana Grande. As we all know, North's natural hair is textured and curly - something that her mother has publicly embraced - so, naturally, the internet had a lot to say about the birthday girl's new hairstyle.

Given that she has been accused of cultural appropriation numerous times now, you'd think that Kim Kardashian would be more careful when it comes to her daughter's textured, black hair. After North West, whose birthday it is today, was spotted with straightened hair, many took to Twitter to criticise the mother-of-three.

"North West is still a baby and has straight hair. I know we all had straight hair too at that age but it’s 2018! The enlightened YouTube era! Come on KimberYe get it together," one Twitter user asserted, while another corroborated "I really hate how the Kardashians keep straightening that poor baby’s hair tho. North west gonna have heat damage before she’s 10 - before I even knew what a straightener was smh."

Another individual wrote, "People going on about how “f*cking gorgeous” North West is now that her hair has been straightened."

Others, however, maintained that Kim can style her daughter's hair in any way she likes.

"Kim has taken such good care of North’s curls over the years. The comments about North’s hair being straightened is tired. First of all, mind your own children," one social media user wrote.

This is not the first time in recent weeks that the reality television star has incited the vitriol of the internet. Kim was accused of promoting eating disorders after sharing an advertisement for an "appetite suppressant lollipop" on Instagram back in May. The image, which shows Kim sucking on a red lollipop, is an endorsement for Flat Tummy Co, a company which sells "detox" teas and shakes as meal replacements. But given that Kim's audience includes impressionable young girls - many of whom regard her as a "role model" - it's an irresponsible move to make.

"#ad You guys… @flattummyco just dropped a new product," Kim wrote in the original caption, which has since been deleted. "They’re Appetite Suppressant Lollipops and they’re literally unreal. They’re giving the first 500 people on their website 15% OFF so if you want to get your hands on some… you need to do it quick! #suckit."

Social media writ large was not impressed, and branded the endorsement as "disgusting" and "reckless".

"I, like you, am the mother of two daughters and I think promoting a product like this is deeply irresponsible on your part Kim," one Instagram user wrote, while another stated: "Please tell me this is a joke and you wouldn’t actually promote an appetite suppressant with how much influence you have. Surely you would recommend a healthy lifestyle like @kourtneykardash and @khloekardashian with young people already under pressure to look a certain way this just promotes eating disorders?!"

Well, there you have it. While Kim has the prerogative to dress and style her daughter as she sees fit, given the global platform and influence she has, she should really consider what kind of message this sends to young girls with beautiful, natural hair.