Kim Kardashian has opened up about the “version” that she prevents her four children from seeing their father Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, and how she “never did it.”
The reality star and beauty mogul spoke with Alex Cooper on the October 15 episode of the show. Podcast “Call Her Daddy” about being a co-parent to Ye. Kardashian, 44, also opened up about what led her to finally seek a divorce from the controversial rapper, the last time he spoke to their children, and why she chooses to remain silent when Ye posts articles about her online.
Kardashian and Ye, married from 2014 to 2022. share children North, 12, Saint, 9, Chicago, 7, and Psalm, 6.
“What do you think co-parenting with Kanye West is like?” Kardashian asked when Cooper broached the topic. “It's not easy, but I'm raising kids full time. They live with me and I enjoy a wonderful, healthy relationship with my children and their father, and I think he knows that.”
“I insist on it all the time, but I also defend them when the time comes. And it happens in waves and stages, and it’s a lot of work.”
Kardashian also revealed the last time the children spoke with their father.
“Whenever he calls them and asks,” she said. “It’s probably been a couple of months since we heard about him. They always knew that he used to lead a big life, traveling, always on tour and everything, and that he lives in different countries all the time and loves to live all over the place. We handle it very well.”
TODAY.com reached out to Ye for comment but did not immediately hear back.
Kardashian is trying to focus on her children.
“They love their life, their routine and their schedule,” she said. “And I think it’s their mom’s job to just make sure they stick to their routine and are healthy and happy.”
She also expressed the opinion that she does not allow her children to see their father.
“Look, no matter what, it's not easy being a parent. I think the one thing that just blows my mind is the story about me keeping the kids away from him,” she said. “I've never done this.
“I said so many times, ‘Ah, I just want to show all these lyrics. What are you talking about? Like, we just haven’t heard anything (from Ye),” she continued. “I beg them to go hang out or something.”
Yeh accused Kardashian on social media of not allowing him to see his children, which she denies.
“It's more of just a story about how I think everything is fine and we're living our lives and then I just wake up and see all these tweets about how I kidnapped children,” Kardashian said. “And I was like, this is not a kidnapping, this is a scam, you know? We can still be present in each other's lives and have dinner together.”
Kardashian said her mother, reality TV star Kris Jenner, says she needs to wait “five years after the divorce” before “everyone can coexist and be friends.”
“Every time he asked, I always let them see their dad,” Kardashian said. “I am like that. If there comes a point where it's really unhealthy, I'll say, “Hey, let's do it here at my house, or let's pick another time.” But actually, when he’s like this, he doesn’t really want to see the kids.”
Kardashian said Ye had lived in Saudi Arabia, Italy and Japan, and she “never denied” that her children were going to visit him.
“I don’t have kids and I think this whole thing really sucks,” she said. “And if I speak out about it and refute it, I'm just not that girl on the Internet who will fight back and be like, 'Wait, your assistant and you said you wanted a completely different birthday party, and you said your party was at 4 (o'clock), so we did ours at noon, and now you go online and say (something else).” It's just a completely different story than what it is, and it really sucks.”
Yeh has previously said derogatory things about Kardashian on social media, but she has not responded.
“There were so many times when I would write a draft and say, 'I'm going to go,'” she said. “And then I just say, 'What's the point?' What's the point? Will I walk back and forth? My children will see this.” They will understand when they want to make these decisions. I used to be such a protector and so “hide it all,” but then sometimes it’s just impossible to hide it all.”
“I never say anything bad about the father of my child just because it’s out there,” she continued. “The last thing I want is for my kids to hear this from me. And I never saw my parents talk bad about each other, no matter what happened. I really think I am. I just don’t want to go there, like, resisting, saying negative things, you know?”
That doesn't mean she hasn't thought about it.
“I wish I could have done this last time,” she said. “I had a good post ready.”
She added that she finds it difficult to remain composed when Ye says negative things about her mother online.
“It's really hard for me because she loves him, still does, and is very emotional and sad about it. It was a big part of our lives,” Kardashian said. “My kids, I say such positive things about their dad that North had to tell me, ‘Mom, I think you go upstairs and cry at night. Like, everything's fine. It's time to move on. Now you need a boyfriend.” And I was like, “Wait, what?” What? Am I crying? No, I'm getting a massage upstairs. What do you think is happening?
Kardashian also revealed why she broke up with Ye: He said negative things about her mother and sisters and aired “personal things.”
“I just didn’t feel safe, even physically, just maybe emotionally or even financially,” she said, adding: “We had, like, five Lamborghinis, and I’d come home and they’d all be gone if he was in the episode. And I would be like, “Oh wait, where are all our cars? My new car.” And it would be like, “Oh, he gave them to all his friends.”
“I didn't know what you'd get when you woke up,” she continued. “And it's a really unsettling feeling. Lack of stability was a big problem.”
