British rapper Skepta has spoken out after a viral video showing 13-year-old North West interacting with adults at Paris Fashion Week sparked debate online.
The footage, filmed during the Vetements Menswear Spring/Summer 2027 presentation in Paris, showed North, the daughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, greeting people as she arrived at the event. In one widely shared clip, North extended her hand for a handshake before an adult man ignored the gesture and pulled her into a hug instead.
The moment prompted Skepta to criticize the interaction on X.
A blind man could see she wanted a handshake.
After some social media users defended the man’s actions, Skepta doubled down on his criticism.
What are you talking about?! She is 13 years old and she put her hand out for a handshake, you do not ignore that. I cannot believe some of these replies to my tweet.
The rapper also expressed concern about the way some adults interacted with the teenager during the event.
My fans know I try to stay out of people’s business but damn the way grown men, complete strangers, try to use North makes me sick.
Skepta urged parents to remain vigilant about their children’s safety, adding:
Protect your kids people. Protect your kids!
He later stressed the importance of respecting non-verbal communication, writing:
Schools teaching French, German & English when really the language most people need to fing learn is ‘Body Language’.
The videos quickly spread across social media, dividing opinion among users. Many agreed with Skepta, arguing that children deserve to have their personal boundaries respected regardless of their family’s fame. Others believed the interaction was harmless and said the reaction had been overblown.
North West, who recently turned 13, has made increasingly frequent appearances at fashion events alongside her mother, Kim Kardashian, and has attracted growing public attention as she steps further into the spotlight.
Skepta’s comments have added to the wider conversation about how adults interact with children in public, particularly those who grow up in the public eye.