Yolanda Hadid Rallies in Defense After Sharing Photo of Granddaughter Khai

24 June 2025

Yolanda Hadid sparked a heated discussion on Instagram on June 24 after posting a tribute to her son Anwar Hadid that included a photo of her four‑year‑old granddaughter Khai playing at the beach. The image, part of a carousel celebrating Anwar’s 26th birthday, showed Khai in a red bathing suit, her face turned away from the camera. While some praised her thoughtful tribute and privacy-conscious framing, others lodged sharp criticism prompting an equally decisive response from the former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star.

The backlash came swiftly. One commenter wrote, “A child’s privacy should always be respected posting such a photo is not okay. Please think about how this might affect her in the future.” In an immediate and curt retort, Yolanda replied, “Please go and harass somebody else’s feed. You are not welcome here!!!” Her rebuke underscored her unwillingness to tolerate what she viewed as overstepping personal boundaries.

Fans were divided in the aftermath. Supporters defended Yolanda, noting that Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik, Khai’s parents, have always been cautious about their daughter’s public exposure. One user pointed out that the grandmother had Gigi’s approval and was careful not to reveal Khai’s face. However, critics highlighted the risks posed by generously followed accounts sharing images of minors, even innocuous ones, fearing they could attract unwanted attention.

Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik have maintained tight control over Khai’s digital presence since her birth in 2020. In a letter to paparazzi and fan accounts, Gigi requested that her daughter’s face not be shown online, expressing a desire for her to grow up with agency over her own visibility . She was later quoted saying that meaningful glimpses into Khai’s life such as candid family moments where the child’s back or profile is shown can still convey her joy without compromising privacy.

Yolanda, who became a grandmother in 2020, has often shared moments with Khai, family outings, celebrations, and simple joys always taking care to obscure her granddaughter’s face. In a separate video tour of her Texas ranch, she revealed a pantry stocked with Khai’s favorite candy, saying she built “one little section” just for her granddaughter. The gesture underscored her affection and the pride she takes in being Khai’s oma, the Dutch term for grandmother.

The latest controversy shines a spotlight on broader questions surrounding children’s privacy in the age of social media. Even images that seem innocuous may feel intrusive to some, particularly when followers number in the millions. With Yolanda’s page drawing hundreds of thousands of followers, critics warned that even a side‑glance photo could expose Khai to untold privacy risks, from digital tracking to identity exploitation by bad actors .

For her part, Yolanda defended her decision, maintaining that the post was a personal tribute that respected her granddaughter’s boundaries. She argued that critics should direct their concerns elsewhere, emphasizing that the photo was shared with love and discretion in mind.

The debate around privacy and parental control isn’t new, but it has intensified in recent years as social media chronicles the earliest years of children’s lives. Families must now make unexpected decisions about when to share, how much to reveal, and who gets to make those calls. Those decisions often involve complicated balances between personal expression, cultural norms, legal considerations, and reputational awareness.

Amid today's digital climate, a single post can catalyze widespread conversation about consent, safety, affection, and legacy. Yolanda’s response reminded observers that even in family matters, public platforms often invite unexpected scrutiny. Many users took a side in the debate some applauded her sharp defense of personal choice, while others called for heightened caution whenever a child is involved.

At the center of the conversation remains Khai, a young child caught in an unexpected spotlight. As Gigi and Zayn prioritize her right to choose what she shares, Yolanda’s moment highlighted how each family member interprets and navigates that promise. In posting the beach carousel, Yolanda sought to honor her son and cherish her granddaughter, but she also ignited an important dialogue.

In the end, each photo, each family tour, each candid smile shared on social accounts becomes a strand in the broader narrative. Yolanda’s quick-fire reply “You are not welcome here” was as much boundary-setting as it was devotion. Families, followers, and fans will continue to watch where the line is drawn between familial pride and public exposure.

As the online debate simmers, the real legacy may lie not in the image itself, but in the questions it raised: how much of a child’s early years belong to them, and how much do we share with the world? In the case of the Hadid‑Malik‑Hadid family, the answer remains a work in progress one defined by intention, protection, and love above all else.