Kim Kardashian Flaunts Daughter North As Simba, Ignores 'Lion King' 'Nepo Baby' Backlash

Kim Kardashian remains resolute in her decision to showcase her daughter, North West, as a child actor despite facing recent backlash.

The little girl was cast as Young Simba for Disney's "The Lion King" live-to-film concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles over Memorial Day weekend. However, this decision sparked criticism from online users who felt she was not fit to play the part and only got it because her parents are celebrities.

In response to the trolls, Kardashian is fighting back by sharing behind-the-scenes pictures of her ten-year-old daughter in costume from the show.

North West's recent appearance in Disney's musical received significant backlash, with many accusing her of securing the role because she is a "nepo baby."

Despite this criticism, her mother, Kardashian, appears unfazed by the trolling and has instead chosen to share more behind-the-scenes footage of North in costume.

In the stunning shots, North is captured donning the oversized yellow hoodie, fluffy slippers, and baggy robe, which represent the costume for the Young Simba role she was cast for. The costume, designed by ERL, reportedly came from her own team rather than the event organizers.

True to her fashion-forward nature, the ten-year-old confidently struck various poses, some standing upright while others saw her stylishly lying on the floor against a grey background. One particularly captivating shot featured her sporting matching shades, adding an extra touch of allure to her ensemble.

Following North's performance as a young Simba, critics took to social media to slam the youngster and her parents while branding her a "nepo baby."

One person wrote on X (formerly Twitter), "Yeah this is terrible for a concert show people paid to see. Come on, the privilege shows. It looks like she didn't even practice."

Another said, "She didn't get any of Kanye's talents from the gene pool, but thankfully, she has Kris Jenner to keep her booked and busy."

A third person noted, "I don't mind nepotism, but at least be good at what you're trying to do."

One more individual commented, "Many talented kids auditioned, and someone with money probably paid or the casting person was a big fan of her parents."

While Kardashian has yet to respond directly to the criticism, a source has shed more insight on how North got the role.

According to the insider, the ten-year-old was "100 percent" picked because of her family's relationship with the showrunners, who are producers of "The Kardashians" and "The Lion King Musical."

"The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl and The Kardashians are both produced by the same production company, Fulwell 73 Production," the insider told the Daily Mail. "This was a shoe in for North, and she was told that if she can carry a note, the gig is hers."

The source also clarified that North did not usurp other child actors to be picked for the role, as many have speculated since her viral performance.

The insider continued, "They were hoping to draw publicity for this, which they did. But North didn't have to compete against anyone else and anyone else who would have auditioned would have not gotten it anyways."

Kardashian was in attendance at her daughter's performance, though she cheered from backstage, as evidenced by earlier photos she shared from North's dressing room. Also present was the ten-year-old's father, Kanye West, along with other family members, including Kris Jenner, Kourtney Kardashian, and her husband, Travis Barker.

According to reports, the Kardashian family intends to use North's star moment in an upcoming episode of their reality show to milk the traction it has garnered since the event.

A source dished, "The promise of the moment being shown on the show and to go and be seen everywhere was also a major selling point for having North a part of the festivities."

They added, "Like everything the Kardashians do, this was well documented and planned. They have to keep the brand somehow."

Last year, North revealed in an interview that she planned to venture into music as part of her ambitious list of career interests.

"A basketball player, a rapper," North said in response to a question about her preferred career for her cover for i-D.

She added, "I'm going to do art on the side. When I'm, like, 13, I want to walk dogs, to make money to buy art supplies, because everything around here is so expensive. So a rapper, a basketball player, and I'm going to make artwork that I sell."

Apart from singing in the musical, North has a cameo in her father's song "Taking/Once Again." She also once performed live with him at the Paris Fashion Week and is currently recording her debut album, which is a tribute to the rapper.