North West is getting the support of a star from the original Lion King cast after her performance as Young Simba.
The 10-year-old daughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West made her stage debut in a 30th anniversary concert production of The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl on Friday, May 24. Jason Weaver – the singing voice of Young Simba in the original 1994 animated classic – is showering her with praise, despite trolls criticizing her casting.
“What an honor it is to share the same stage with this young superstar in the making!! I’m so PROUD you, North!! You’re doing a such PHENOMENAL job in this show,” he wrote in a photo caption of the two together backstage.
He added that he “can’t wait” for fans to get to see her performance when it airs on Disney+.
“I can’t wait for people to see your performance of ‘I Just Can’t Wait To Be King’ when The Lion King 30th Anniversary Celebration eventually starts streaming on @disneyplus!! You’re a true professional, and I wish you nothing but the best as you continue your journey towards greatness,” he continued.
The show also featured performances from the likes of Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, Billy Eichner and Jennifer Hudson.
West was showered with praise and received a standing ovation after her song, but some trolls on X, formerly Twitter, claimed her famous parents were the only reason she secured the role.
“The worst case of nepo I have witnessed,” one person wrote.
“Someone else’s more talented, probably voice-[trained] and dance-trained kid didn’t get it because his or her family isn’t famous enough,” another X user said.
“She looks great and it seems like she’s having a lot of fun, but I’m definitely not gonna bypass the fact that we all know she wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t [for] who her parents were. This is classism at its finest,” and a third person added.
It has not been clarified whether North West went through an audition to land the role.
“She smiled and seemed nervous yet confident. She definitely seemed to be having fun and trying her best. She never forgot the words and danced all around the stage. She looked happy and was always smiling,” a source told Us Weekly.
