What to Know
She has been brought on-stage with dad Kanye West in the past, but in June 2026, North West played her first solo show at the Lyrical Lemonade’s Summer Smash music festival. After she stepped on-stage, clips of the then-12-year-old quickly went viral. Some social media users criticized her based on who her parents, including mom Kim Kardashian, are. Others defended her despite her ever-present nepo baby status.
People also have an issue with North performing on her own at such a young age. It’s not clear if she wants to make a living out of being a performer or if she even writes her own music. But with parents like Kim and Kanye, it would probably be more surprising if she didn’t want to be in the spotlight.
People aren’t sure about North West’s singing talent.
@shotbycharlemagne North West performing her first solo set at Summer Smash 2026 #northwest #summersmash #rap #concert #live ♬ original sound – ShotByCharlemagne
After someone posted a TikTok video of North on-stage, there were mixed reactions to her performance. Some applauded the now 13-year-old for having the courage to get up there and perform for such a large crowd. Others questioned whether or not she’s old enough to be there, with someone joking that it seems like North has been 12 forever. But, like, same, because it absolutely feels that way. She did turn 13 a day after the festival ended, though.
And then there were people who commented to critique North and her talent. Or, what they believe to be a lack of true talent, despite who her father is.
“She has her father’s confidence and her mother’s talent,” one TikTok user commented.
Another person joked, “Kim needs to say no every once in a while.”
“The true definition of nepotism,” someone else wrote. And you can’t really argue with that one, because what other 12-year-old with no musical following would be given access to a stage at such a big music festival?
In the video, North’s microphone seems to be outfitted with some sort of autotune, because as North shouts out to Chicago, her voice seems a bit altered. To be fair, though, the crowd seems totally into it. But there are some social media users who aren’t sure about North’s future as a singer or entertainer in general.
After someone posted an Instagram video from the same event, users once again shared their thoughts on North as a performer.
One commented, speaking as North, “My mom and dad are super rich, so they bought me this stage so I can play!”
Someone else wrote, pretty candidly, “In no universe, parallel or otherwise, is this any good.”
Others are a little put off by her older fan base.
Regardless of the talent that people do or do not think North has, users on TikTok quickly pointed out the audience North performed for at the festival. In the video, there are tons of young men who are all likely much older than North was, at 12, at the time of the performance.
“It’s honestly creepy that a bunch of grown men are watching a 12-year-old with no talent screech a song. Like why are they there?” Someone questioned on TikTok.
Another wrote, “It was fine [for a] just a kid playing around but why is the crowd all grown ass men?”
“Grown ass men jumping around for a 12-year-old,” a user added in the comments.
Kim Kardashian was called out for nepotism.
The Kardashian-Jenner family is full of performers and moguls. It makes sense for North to go that route in some way, even if some people are a bit tired of the family at this point. Maybe Kim went wrong by featuring North so much in The Kardashians and then allowing her oldest child to livestream on social media. But no matter how you look at it, people are going to see any success that North gets as a product of nepotism.
Someone wrote on Instagram, “At some point we have got to start doing better. That family is never going to go away.”
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