Fans spotted the controversial piercing while the mother and daughter were vacationing in Rome

Kim Kardashian has not remained entirely silent in the face of criticism. Though she has not directly addressed this specific incident, she has long defended her parenting philosophy, emphasizing that she encourages her children to embrace their identities while ensuring they feel supported and loved. In past interviews, Kardashian has made it clear that she values creativity and self-expression, even if it means raising eyebrows. For her, the role of a mother is not about shielding her kids from every controversial choice but about guiding them through experiences with understanding and care.

This philosophy has been evident in North’s public persona. Over the years, North West has become something of a child star in her own right, often stealing the spotlight at fashion shows, red carpets, and even on TikTok. Her daring sense of fashion and outspoken personality have made her a cultural figure, admired by some for her boldness and criticized by others for being “too grown up” for her age. The dermal piercing controversy is just the latest chapter in the ongoing conversation about where to draw the line between youthful self-expression and adult choices.

North West and Kim Kardashian.Credit : Cobra Team / BACKGRID (2)

While the SKIMS founder and her 12-year-old daughter were recently vacationing in Rome, eagle-eyed fans spotted what appears to be a dermal piercing on North’s middle finger. Also known as microdermal piercings or single-point piercings, dermal piercings lie flat against the skin and don’t have a separate entry and exit point, per Byrdie.

In photos snapped on Aug. 23, Kardashian, 44, wore a black bodycon silk dress, while North wore a black corset, a skirt and knee-high boots. The tween’s electric blue hair was styled in two ponytails that reached below her waist. In addition to her fresh piercing, she accessorized with a heart-shaped purse, glasses and lots of bracelets.

North West and Kim Kardashian.Cobra Team / BACKGRID

In a TikTok, posted on the mother-daughter duo’s joint account, the pair showed off their outfits as they danced to Destroy Lonely’s “If Looks Could Kill.”

The fashion moment is coming under fire, with many fans saying that North is too young for a dermal piercing, which some say can be more painful and prone to infection than other types of piercings. One user called out the piercing in a Keeping Up With the Kardashians subreddit, prompting many to criticize Kardashian.

Social media platforms quickly lit up with divided reactions. Some users went so far as to accuse Kardashian of “reckless parenting,” arguing that a child so young cannot fully understand the long-term consequences of body modifications. Others expressed shock that any piercing studio would agree to perform a dermal piercing on someone under 18, with speculation swirling about whether the piercing was real, temporary, or perhaps even a removable faux accessory. For detractors, the incident was framed as yet another example of celebrity parents normalizing extreme beauty standards and adult practices for children.

Supporters of Kardashian, however, rushed to her defense, pointing out that cultural attitudes toward piercings vary widely and that many parents allow their children to express themselves through fashion and body art at an early age. Fans reminded critics that Kardashian herself grew up in a glamorous, highly visible household and has often celebrated individuality, creativity, and self-expression in her children. To them, North’s piercing was nothing more than a playful way for her to explore her style — and a symbol of the confidence and boldness she has already become known for.

Brian Keith Thompson, professional piercer and owner of Body Electric Tattoo in Los Angeles, tells PEOPLE that he requires clients to be 18 years old to get a dermal piercing “because it takes a level of maturity to get through the healing process.”

However, he adds that they’re “not dangerous.”

“The only risk of a dermal on the finger is that it can be ripped out very easily,” Thompson explains.

North West’s piercing.Cobra Team / BACKGRID

Kardashian, who is also mom to Psalm, 6, Chicago, 7, and Saint, 9, has spoken about her oldest daughter being a “big critiquer” of her fashion looks.

While speaking with Vogue’s correspondent Emma Chamberlain on the blue carpet at the 2025 Met Gala, Kardashian insinuated that her daughter was embodying the spirit of fashion icon Joan Rivers.

“She’s a big critiquer, but it’s pretty good, you know, her critiquing,” she said when Chamberlain asked her what North has taught her about fashion. “But you know just be yourself, right? She’s … also, I think, in a really positive place, like vibe, right now, where it’s just like, ‘Hey, even if that’s not my style, I’m not going to critique that because just be you and if you like that then that’s what you should be into.’”

“So, I love that energy, and so she was such a positive force tonight, like it was great,” Kardashian concluded.

Kim Kardashian has once again found herself at the center of a heated online firestorm after her 12-year-old daughter, North West, was spotted showing off what appeared to be a dermal piercing in her middle finger. The revelation quickly spread across social media, sparking a fierce debate between critics who called the move “dangerous” and “reckless,” and fans who rushed to Kim’s defense, arguing that the reality star and business mogul should be free to raise her children as she sees fit. The incident is the latest example of how Kardashian’s parenting choices are relentlessly scrutinized in the public eye, with every decision turned into a larger cultural battleground.

The controversy began when photos and short clips of North surfaced online, showcasing her unique sense of style and bold personality. Among the standout details was a small, gleaming dermal piercing positioned in the center of her middle finger — a fashion statement that immediately drew attention. For many fans, it was simply another example of North’s budding individuality and creative flair, traits she has displayed since childhood. But for critics, the piercing crossed a line, raising questions about safety, appropriateness, and the role of parents in setting boundaries for children who are still preteens.

Dermal piercings, unlike traditional earrings, involve embedding a stud beneath the surface of the skin, creating the illusion of a jewel that “floats” on the body. While popular among adults seeking an edgy look, dermal piercings can pose risks of infection, irritation, or rejection if not performed and cared for properly. That reality became the centerpiece of the backlash, as concerned voices argued that allowing a 12-year-old to undergo such a procedure was unnecessarily risky. Critics filled comment sections with warnings, saying that Kardashian was exposing her daughter to pain and potential medical complications simply for fashion’s sake.

The debate also highlighted a broader conversation about how the children of celebrities are raised under constant public scrutiny. While millions of parents make decisions every day about their children’s style, hobbies, and freedom of self-expression, few are subjected to the kind of relentless judgment that Kardashian faces. Every hairstyle, outfit, and extracurricular activity chosen for North and her siblings tends to spark think pieces and online debates, with Kardashian caught in the crossfire of conflicting expectations. Some argue she must protect her children from the excesses of fame, while others insist she should let them grow up authentically and unapologetically themselves.

Experts in child psychology and body modification have also weighed in, adding nuance to the debate. Some suggest that allowing children to explore their identity through style can be empowering, boosting confidence and independence. Others caution that body modifications involving pain, permanence, or medical risk should generally be reserved for older teens who can fully consent. The dermal piercing, then, sits at the intersection of these perspectives — raising valid concerns while also serving as a lightning rod for broader societal anxieties about celebrity parenting.

For Kardashian’s supporters, the controversy reveals more about the public’s obsession with policing women — especially famous mothers — than it does about her actual parenting. They argue that if North were a child outside the spotlight, her piercing might have gone unnoticed or been seen as quirky rather than scandalous. Instead, because she is Kim Kardashian’s daughter, her every choice is magnified, criticized, and dissected as though it carries cultural consequences. That scrutiny, they suggest, says less about Kardashian and more about the public’s fixation on celebrity families.

As the debate continues to unfold, one thing remains clear: Kim Kardashian’s parenting choices will always be judged more harshly than those of most parents. Whether fans see her as a reckless mother exposing her children to unnecessary risks or a supportive parent encouraging individuality, the controversy over North West’s dermal piercing underscores the challenges of raising kids in the public eye. For North, it may simply be a small piece of jewelry — but for millions of onlookers, it has become a symbol of larger debates about childhood, freedom, and the responsibilities of parenting in a world where nothing escapes scrutiny.