North West's erratic new image sparks deeply concerning industry gossip... as truth about her Kim Kardashian lookalike minder is revealed and family's closest friends speak out

Sat in the front row, North West looked uncomfortable as photographers and fans clamored to get a shot of her, the braying mob held back by a lone security guard trying to afford the youngster some space.

It's nothing new for North who, from as young as two, was demanding 'no pictures' from prying paparazzi and holding up signs in protest.

But it's clearly something she still has not adjusted to, with her latest outing, sans her A-list parents Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, sparking a serious debate over North's exposure in the public eye at such a tender age.

While obliging to pose for photos at the Vetements show during Paris Fashion Week on Friday, 13-year-old North was hugged by two grown men, one of whom – 23-year-old internet personality Matteo Sinet – ignored her apparent attempt at a handshake, instead embracing her.

UK rapper Skepta shared a video of that moment online, rattling off a slew of concerned posts, one of which implored: 'WOW!! Protect your kids people. Protect your kids!'

Now, sources have told the Daily Mail that Skepta, real name Joseph Olaitan Adenuga Jr, is far from the only celebrity questioning North's meteoric rise to public prominence, with Kardashian, 45, said to feel 'insulted' at the idea that she isn't doing enough to protect her daughter.

'Skepta won't be the only artist concerned about how exposed North is to fame-hungry adults who may not all have good intentions,' one insider told the Daily Mail.

'Artists are super conscious about protecting their kids from the industry. Some people close to Kanye love Kim but feel that not enough is being done to keep adults away from North. Other celebs do judge them.

'Kanye isn't completely on board with everyone who is in charge with looking after North.'

In fact, another source added that West, also now known as Ye, is taking steps 'to ensure North has the protection and boundaries she needs.'

'No child should be placed in a position where adult men feel entitled to crowd her, comment on her, or seek photos with her in a way that treats her as public property,' the source said. 'Ye believes the focus should be on condemning that behavior, not packaging it as spectacle.

'Ye is taking this seriously… This behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.'

West may have his concerns, but he and Kardashian were both nowhere to be seen as their daughter battled the paparazzi at last week's event. Instead, the controversial rapper was celebrating his 49th birthday with his new wife Bianca Censori at a private party a mere ten miles away at the Château de Versailles.

Kardashian, meanwhile, appeared to be back home in Los Angeles celebrating her sister Khloe's 42nd birthday.

In their absence, North had been left in the care of Danielle Levi, a longtime stylist of Kardashian who in recent months has seemingly taken on the role of primary chaperone for the young teen as Kardashian struggles to juggle her own career with North's ascension.

Israeli-born Levi is often featured on North's TikTok, which she shares with Kardashian, and has been by her side while promoting her debut album titled, N0rth4evr. 

In May, Levi attended a N0rth4evr event in Los Angeles and later cheered on the youngster while she performed at Rolling Loud music festival in Orlando, Florida. 

While earlier this month, she shared photos from Lyrical Lemonade's Summer Smash 2026 festival as she watched North on stage.

Born in Jerusalem and an alum of design at Accademia Italiana, Levi started her career working under Interview Magazine's Editor-in-Chief Mel Ottenberg when he was a stylist for Rihanna. 

Levi was Ottenberg's Los Angeles assistant for two years before landing a stylist job under West, who she once described as her 'number one' style icon.

As for Kardashian, insiders stress that co-parenting with someone as erratic as West - who she divorced in 2022 - has not been easy.

North, it is also said, has always had a bold personality even from a young age, with Kardashian once claiming her daughter 'intimidates' her, adding: 'North West is Kanye West's daughter. Forget that, she's his twin.'

Indeed, her father's influence influence has become all too evident, with North having been videoed shouting at paparazzi and even publicly describing herself as 'the best ever' in West's typically grandiose style.

She has also seemingly inherited her father's passion for sartorial stunts, currently sporting long blue hair, multiple finger piercings and sporting fake face tattoos, colored contact lenses and metal teeth grills. 

Sources previously told the Daily Mail that Kardashian 'would actually prefer it if her kids weren't so in the spotlight, but she knows that isn't realistic.'

But what she wasn't prepared for was just how early North would seek out a music career.

Not only has she released an album, the teen is set to hit the road for a 14-date tour alongside 21-year-old rapper Molly Santana, who she performed with at Rolling Loud festival back in May. The Molly x North Kimokawaii Tour is due to kick off on August 5 in Dallas, Texas, before heading to several cities in North America and Canada, and wrapping up in North's hometown of Los Angeles on August 27.

'Kim never wanted North to make music and start a tour so soon because of safety concerns,' said another insider. 'But North does what she wants, she is determined to become a huge star and have her own fame.'

And it is all made harder by the fact that 'Kanye backs up North', the insider added.

'It gives him great pride that North wants to follow in his footsteps and become a singer,' the insider said. 'Kim cannot control North, that kid does what she wants.'

Kardashian was married to West from 2014 until 2022. She filed for divorce after his very public mental health breakdown which saw him launch a 2020 bid for presidency, before descending into years of abhorrent antisemitic online posting and bizarre behavior.

Kardashian later told Alex Cooper's Call Her Daddy podcast that she had struggled to cope with a 'lack of stability.' Their divorce settlement granted joint custody and access to their four children, who live with Kardashian.

'Kim feels judged by a lot of other parents but is insulted at the idea that she isn't doing enough to protect North,' said our first insider. 'Her closest friends believe Kanye should have been a better husband to her if he wanted to have so much control over how the kids were raised.

'He has made it easier for detractors to target Kim because of his past nonsensical anti-Semitic and anti-Black tirades. She is doing the best she can.'

The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Kardashian and West for comment.