Reality star and entrepreneur Kim Kardashian offered an unprecedented look into her “toxic” marriage with Kanye West during a recent appearance on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast. She candidly shared the emotional and financial turmoil, including instances of West giving away their luxury vehicles during mental episodes, and her ultimate decision to prioritize her mental well-being and set a healthy example for their four children.
The highly anticipated appearance of Kim Kardashian on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast on October 15th delivered a raw and honest account of her relationship with rapper Kanye West. The SKIMS founder, 44, did not shy away from describing their union as “toxic,” offering a deeply personal narrative that resonated with fans and shed light on the complex factors that led to their high-profile divorce.
The Genesis of a ‘Toxic’ Relationship
During her conversation with host Alex Cooper, Kardashian admitted to having a tendency to “only remember the good” in past relationships. However, she emphasized a newfound intolerance for negativity since her divorce, stating, “I think when you get older, you just don’t tolerate that s—. You don’t have time.” Their divorce was finalized in November 2022, following her initial filing in early 2021 after a nearly seven-year marriage that began in May 2014.
Kardashian reflected on the early warning signs of their marital breakdown, acknowledging that “people can say that there was, like, signs and maybe I didn’t wasn’t paying attention to them.” She explained her initial supportive stance when Kanye West, 48, experienced his first mental break, wanting to help him navigate it. West had publicly revealed his diagnosis with bipolar disorder after the release of his 2018 album, Ye, following a “psychiatric emergency” in November 2016. In 2020, sources indicated he continued to experience both manic and depressive episodes, as reported by People.
Despite her efforts, Kardashian ultimately found it unsustainable. “When someone isn’t willing to make changes that I think would be super healthy and beneficial in a relationship, it makes it really hard to continue on in a relationship that can be toxic,” she shared. The presence of their four children—North, 12, Saint, 9, Chicago, 7, and Psalm, 6—made the decision to leave even more challenging, knowing it would “change everyone’s life forever.”
The Breaking Point: Financial Instability and Emotional Strain
For Kardashian, the “final straw” involved several critical issues that eroded her sense of safety and stability within the marriage. These included West publicly speaking out against her mother, Kris Jenner, and her sisters, as well as significant financial concerns.
She recounted a shocking example of West’s erratic financial decisions during an “episode.” “Just not feeling safe, you know, not even physically, just like maybe emotionally or even, you know, financially,” Kardashian explained. “I would like come home, and we had like five Lamborghinis and I’d come home and they’d all be gone if he was in an episode. And I’d be like, ‘Oh, wait. Where’s all our cars? Like, my new car?’ And it would be like, oh, he gave them away to all of his friends.” This unsettling lack of predictability and stability became a major factor, as she confessed, “I didn’t know what you’re gonna get when you wake up, and that’s like a really unsettling feeling,” a detail also highlighted by Billboard.
Prioritizing Self and Children
Ultimately, Kardashian made the difficult decision to leave for the sake of her own mental health and to be a better parent. “Once my mental health starts to get affected and then I can’t parent the way that I need to and I can’t be present and focused, then there’s gotta be one of us that can,” she stated. “And I had to save myself in order to be a better mom for everyone.” She believes her children will understand her decision when they are older.
Despite the challenges, Kardashian holds no regrets about her time with West. “An over a decade relationship with four beautiful children is not a failure,” she affirmed, emphasizing the positive aspects that endure.
Life Post-Divorce and Co-Parenting
Since her divorce, Kardashian’s only long-term public relationship was with Pete Davidson, from October 2021 to August 2022. She admitted that West’s public taunting of Davidson made her wary of future public dating, describing it as “really sad” and unfair to Pete.
Co-parenting with Kanye West remains a complex endeavor. Kardashian candidly described it as “not easy,” noting that she raises their children full-time. She expresses a desire for “a great, healthy relationship with my kids and their dad,” actively pushing for it while also protecting her children when necessary. She revealed that it had been “a couple months” since she last heard from West regarding seeing their children.
Looking Forward: Personal Growth and New Ventures
Despite initial fears of losing her connections in the fashion and art worlds after her split from West, Kardashian found the opposite to be true. She attributes this to the “universe rewarding me and showing me that I was moving in the right direction.”
The reality star and budding lawyer has a busy schedule ahead. Fans can look forward to the season 7 premiere of The Kardashians on October 23, and the debut of her new legal drama series, All’s Fair, on November 4, starring alongside talents like Naomi Watts and Glenn Close.
Her personal life continues to unfold publicly, with a preview of the upcoming season of The Kardashians revealing a shocking confession: a “call from investigators” about “someone extremely close to me put a hit out on my life.” This dramatic revelation, along with her testimony in the 2016 Paris robbery trial, promises to make season 7 “a whole different beast.”
Kardashian’s candid interview provides a rare glimpse into the realities behind the headlines, showcasing her resilience and determination to build a stable and fulfilling life for herself and her children, even amidst continued public scrutiny and personal challenges.
