HOKim Kardashian Describes Explaining Kanye West Divorce to Their Kids: ‘You Never Go to a Negative Side’

The reality star dove into the difficulty of splitting up her marriage and the impact her father, Robert Kardashian, still has on her 20 years after his death

Divorce is never easy on the children. And when the two people splitting up are the most famous reality TV star in the world and one of the most well-known rappers on the planet — whose every move is dissected and chronicled by the tabloids — things get even stickier.

Kim Kardashian dives into that uncomfortable talk in a new GQ cover feature, in which she looks back at the lessons she learned from her father, O.J. Simpson attorney Robert Kardashian, and dissects how he still inspires her to this day.

Kim Kardashian and her ex-husband, Kanye West (now known as Ye), initiated divorce proceedings in 2021, finalizing their split in November 2022. The couple, who wed in 2014 and share four children, underwent a highly publicized separation. In a feature for GQ, Kim reflects on how her approach to the divorce was influenced by her father, Robert Kardashian’s, own tumultuous divorce from Kris Jenner.

Eldest daughter Kourtney Kardashian recalled the impact of her parents’ divorce, describing it as traumatic due to their rare instances of conflict. Kourtney mentioned overhearing their whispered arguments, highlighting the stark contrast to their usual harmonious relationship. This background provided Kim with insight into navigating her own divorce, understanding the importance of minimizing conflict and prioritizing the well-being of her children amidst the separation.

Kim, then nine-years-old — around same age eldest daughter North is now — never heard their fights, though, and when they called in the girls for a family meeting she said she “felt it.” She remembered her parents being “open” with them about the divorce, something she said she’s tried to keep in mind for when her children might ask her about their parent’s split.

Kim emphasized the importance of ensuring that children feel loved and supported during the divorce process. She highlighted the need for sensitivity, acknowledging that divorce is challenging for children regardless of their age. Kim stressed the importance of communicating with children at a level they can understand and being willing to show vulnerability while avoiding negativity.

However, Kim also acknowledged that maintaining restraint does not completely mitigate the emotional strain of divorce. She mentioned the additional challenges posed by Kanye West’s highly publicized meltdown in 2022. During this time, Kanye made several antisemitic remarks and unsettling statements about Nazis, leading to a significant backlash that impacted his career and business ventures, which were previously valued at $1 billion.

“Just because I know how to manage my stress well doesn’t mean that I don’t feel the emotions,” Kardashian said. “If I’m sad, of course I will cry and feel it.”

The writer asked Kardashian’s sisters and a longtime friend how she’s changed since the divorce and they all pointed to a renewed confidence. “Not that she wasn’t confident before,” said younger sister Khloé, “but it’s a different assurance that she has in herself. She knows she can do it on her own. She knows the power that she has within herself, as opposed to thinking the power was in someone else’s hands.”

Allison Statter, a childhood friend of Kim, shared that Kim was apprehensive about ending her relationship with Kanye West because deep down, she desired to keep her family together. Kim’s uncertainty about what her life would be like after the divorce contributed to her fear. Statter expressed pride in Kim for her courage in making the decision.

The article also delves into how Kim’s father, Robert Kardashian, influenced her fashion choices and business ventures. Kim revealed that her father had a keen sense of style and a strong interest in menswear, which inspired her to launch a men’s version of her SKIMS shapewear line. She fondly recalled her father’s visits to the trendy store where she worked as a teenager, where he would express his desire for fashionable items like wax-coated jeans from the brand Diesel. Kim admired her father’s effortless coolness and his ability to elevate simple outfits with his distinct style.

Her self-made dad’s entrepreneurial spirt, and insistence that his kids learn a work ethic, has been passed along to Kim’s kids. As an example, she says North sets up a lemonade stand at the end of their street most weeks and hangs out for hours, using a clever sliding-scale payment method: $2 for randos, but sometimes $20 for people she knows. “I’ll get calls from my friends saying she charged them $20 for a lemonade. She’ll grab their $20 and say, ‘I don’t have any change’,” Kardashian said.