North West performed as Simba in The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl this weekendCredit: Splash

The performance has been met with criticism and accusations of nepotismCredit: Splash

A performance in honor of The Lion King’s 30th anniversary took place at the Hollywood Bowl on Saturday, May 26.

Stars from both versions of the film — including Nathan Lane, Billy Eichner, and Jeremy Irons — took the stage at the star-studded event.

And rounding out the cast list were “special guests” Jennifer Hudson and Kim and Kanye’s oldest child, North West.

North beamed as she stepped out as Simba, belting out her part in I Just Can’t Wait to Be King.

But as clips from the show spread across social media, viewers had some harsh words.

“I don’t like the fact that she got this solely based on her mom or dad,” wrote one.

“There’s a kid out there with real talent that should’ve been given this opportunity. And no, I’m not a hater, I actually like the Kardashians,” wrote another.

“Aw man… I feel bad for the kids out there that are actually talented who could’ve nailed this,” said a third.

But parenting expert Kirsty Ketley says even if this is a case of a “nepo baby” in the spotlight, people should lay off North.

Instead, Ketley suggests they should center the criticism where it belongs — on her parents.

Kirsty shared her take with The U.S. Sun…

While North appeared to be loving every minute, it seems that those watching her performance were less than impressed and took to the internet to share their disgust.

So, is it nepotism at its finest, as those commenting online suggest?

Most likely, although there is no official word on just how North did get the part.

It is her mom and dad who are responsible, and it is they who should be criticized, not North West.

Kirsty Ketley

There’s just the suggestion that her mom and dad (and a generous payment to the casting director) may have made it happen.

But should a ten-year-old girl be trolled though? No way!

Regardless of how North ended up on that stage and how well she performed (or not), she is still only ten years old and was clearly having the time of her life — what’s to be upset about that?

The Kardashians are not shy when it comes to the spotlight, and we often see North West performing.

Parenting expert Kirsty Ketley says Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are responsibleCredit: Getty

Sometimes that’s with her dad, Kayne, or otherwise on the TikTok she shares with her mom.

She has recently revealed that she is following in her dad’s footsteps and releasing her first album, Elementary School Dropout.

It seems clear that North wants to do all these things, and for the most part, enjoys the limelight.

Sticking her up on stage in front of thousands watching in a stadium and allowing her to face such harsh criticism and ridicule, at just ten years old, is cruel.

Kirsty Ketley

But while it may seem to most people that she is too young to be thrust into the scrutiny of the world, it isn’t she who is to blame.

It is her mom and dad who are responsible, and it is they who should be criticized, not North West.

At the moment, North West is living her best ten-year-old life — a life that many other ten-year-olds would be green with jealousy about.

‘She doesn’t know that success should be measured on your own merit,’ said KetleyCredit: Splash

But her undeveloped brain is not yet capable of fathoming that she may be taking on too much, too soon.

She doesn’t know that success should be measured on your own merit — not by who your parents and family are, and certainly not by how many likes and follows you get on social media.

As she gets older and matures, she will come to realize that all that she has isn’t down to her own doing, leaving her feeling less confident in herself and questioning her own abilities.

She may feel cheated out of a normal childhood.

Ketley said that making sure North gets whatever she wants is a ‘step too far’ and is teaching her the wrong thingsCredit: Splash

All parents want to support their children and help them wherever it’s possible.

But ensuring that North gets what she wants, regardless of whether she is the right person for the job, or whether she is the right age to take on such momentous things, is taking that support and help a step too far.

Kim and Kayne are not instilling a good work ethic in North, teaching her that you need to work hard to get to where you want.

They aren’t teaching her that she will be taken more seriously if she gets there on her own merit.

If her dream is to perform — be that a rapper, singer, or actor — or all of the above, investing in theatre and/or music school, where she can hone her talent, would be a better way to go.

Sticking her up on stage in front of thousands watching in a stadium and allowing her to face such harsh criticism and ridicule, at just ten years old, is cruel and may be something that comes back to bite Kim and Kanye in the future.

Teaching North that she can have anything she wants, because of who she is, can have a detrimental effect on her own self-worth and self-esteem, when, or if, that expectation doesn’t become a reality for her.

She said it was ‘cruel’ for her parents to set her up for public criticismCredit: Splash