Photos: What is wrong with a 12 y.o white girl wearing blonde box braids? Ha, social media!!!

Like most 12-year-old girls, she was excited to show off her new look to friends on social media. Things quickly escalated after pictures of Mallory in her new blonde box braids started to make rounds.

Many people found the braids to be ‘offensive’ and just another form of cultural appropriation.

Writer/editor Jamilah Lemieux summed up the majority of backlash and opposition:

It wasn’t all bad though — a lot of people showed support for Mallory and her new choice of hairstyle.

Mallory later issued the following apology:

We’re not sure if 12-year-old Mallory crafted that apology herself or had help from her parents, but it’s refreshing to see someone make a sincere apology even if their intentions weren’t to offend.