North West, the 12-year-old daughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, appears to have removed a contentious finger piercing after it sparked a significant online debate about parenting and childhood in the spotlight.
The Piercing That Caused a Storm
During a summer trip to Italy with her mother, North was first seen sporting a dermal piercing on the middle finger of her right hand. The jewellery, featuring two silver balls placed just below her knuckle, quickly drew the attention of fans and critics alike when pictures surfaced online. Many were quick to question the decision, given North's young age.
One social media user commented, "She's literally 12 lol she's a child and that's a pretty permanent decision." Another added, "I wish her mother had allowed her to grow up away from the public eye. Children should be given the space to simply be children, she now looks more like a grown adult than a kid."
North's Fiery Response and Subsequent Removal
North West did not take the criticism quietly. Using the TikTok account she shares with her mother, the preteen posted a defiant selfie video. The clip featured audio saying, "Why are you crying? How old are you? Just pull it together." She overlaid the video with text that read, "This is for everyone that's mad over a finger piercing." To prove the piercing was genuine, she also uploaded now-deleted behind-the-scenes photos of the procedure.
However, in a new series of photos shared to her personal Instagram account on Tuesday 30 December 2025, the piercing was conspicuously absent. The images showed North posing with friends in the snow, her bright blue hair peeking out from a Balenciaga puffer jacket. Despite her hand being clearly visible in the shots, the once-debated jewellery was nowhere to be seen, suggesting she may have taken it out.
A Broader Debate on Parenting and Style
The finger piercing is just one facet of a wider controversy surrounding Kim Kardashian's parenting choices for her eldest daughter. Throughout the year, North's fashion choices, including outfits like a tight black corset and mini skirt, have been labelled as "inappropriate" for a child her age by some observers.
Critics have voiced concerns online, with one stating, "Twelve? Sorry; too early to parade her around like that. She's still very much a child." Another asked, "What is it with some celebs who dress their kids much older than their years."
In response to the ongoing scrutiny, Kim Kardashian defended her approach on the Call Her Daddy podcast. She emphasised her desire to nurture North's self-expression, saying, "It makes her so happy. I would never take that creative [style] away from her." Kardashian described her daughter as her "bestie" and stated she would rather have North experiment with styles under her guidance.
The saga of North West's piercing highlights the intense public scrutiny faced by celebrity children and the perennial debate over the boundaries of parenting, personal expression, and growing up in the relentless glare of social media.
