Kim Kardashian has revealed how her parents’ divorce helped her navigate her own split from ex-husband Kanye West.
The reality star, 43, who ended her marriage to the rapper, 46, in 2021, with whom she shares four children, admitted it was ok to be ‘vulnerable’ without needing to say anything negative about her former partner.
Gracing the cover of GQ’s 28th annual Men of the Year issue she recalled how her parents made her and her siblings feel ‘loved and heard’ during the painful split, something she endeavoured to do with her own children.
Kim’s parents Kris and Robert Kardashian were married for 13-years, sharing kids Kim, Kourtney, 44, Khloe, 39, and Robert Jr, 36, before parting ways in 1991.
She told the publication: ‘I did think about how my parents handled it with us’.
Parted ways: Kim Kardashian, 43, has revealed how her parents’ divorce helped her navigate her own split from ex-husband Kanye West, 46,
Candid: The reality star who split from the rapper in 2021, with whom she shares four children said it was ok to be ‘vulnerable’ without needing to say anything negative about her former partner (pictured with Kanye in 2016)
‘I just remember them being open…Ultimately, what matters is that kids feel loved and heard. You want to be sensitive because they’re just kids, and it’s hard to go through no matter what age’.
Adding: ‘You have to make sure that you only go to a level that they can understand. It’s okay to show a vulnerable side. You never go to a negative side.’
Last year Kim explained that she has tried to shield her kids from ‘all of the crazy s***’ that comes with Kanye’s public outbursts, but insisted if they after question her about it in the future she will be ‘prepared’ to answer.
The mother of four teared up as she discussed their public divorce on the Angie Martinez IRL Podcast and compared the lives of her children to her own being raised by father Robert.
Kim was crying as she said: ‘I had the best dad. I don’t want to get emotional. It has just been a day for me. It’s hard. S*** like co-parenting it’s really f***ing hard you know.’
‘So like if they don’t know things that are being said or what’s happening in the world like why would I ever bring that energy to them. You know, that’s like real heavy, heavy grown up s***. That they are not ready to, like, deal with.
‘And when they are we will have those conversations and I’ll be so prepared but until then I will do anything to keep their life as normal as possible.’
Kanye and Kim began dating in 2012. The pair tied the knot in 2014 and share four children together: daughters North, 10, and Chicago, five, and sons Psalm, four and Saint, seven.
Mum: Kim filed for divorce from the rapper in 2021 , citing irreconcilable differences and initially agreeing to joint custody prior to a breakdown in 2022 that saw the former couple clash over their children: daughters North, 10, and Chicago, five, and sons Psalm, four and Saint, seven
Dad: Gracing the cover of GQ’s 28th annual Men of the Year issue she recalled how her parents made her and her siblings feel ‘loved and heard’ during the painful split, something she endeavoured to do with her own children (L-R) Kourtney, Robert, Khloe, Kim and Robert Jr in 2003
Moving on: Mum Kris pictured with second husband Bruce Jenner – now Caitlyn – in 1991
Kim filed for divorce from the rapper in 2021, citing irreconcilable differences and initially agreeing to joint custody prior to a breakdown in 2022 that saw the former couple clash over their children.
She also told Vogue Italia in May: ‘If it’s something concerning my kids’ dad and I’m upset, I try not to show as much emotion,’
‘I have to be ready to explain why I’m upset and it might not be appropriate for them to know. There’s nothing worse than ‘You’ll understand when you’re older.’ I don’t want to be that person.’
Elsewhere in the interview her sister Khloe said how Kim had found a ‘renewed confidence’ since the split and a ‘different assurance in herself’ and not thinking the power was ‘in someone else’s hands’.
Meanwhile childhood friend Allison Statter gushed how proud she was of her pal for bravely ending the marriage despite ‘deep down wanting to keep her family together’.
Kim also revealed how she not only turned to a child psychologist for help and parenting advice but also relies on her Christian faith to deal with difficult times.
Saying how she and her children pray every night before admitting: ‘I’m probably more religious than most people guess’.
Kim Kardashian opens up about parenting amid Kanye controversy
Sad: Last year Kim explained that she has tried to shield her kids from ‘all of the crazy s***’ that comes with Kanye’s public outbursts, but insisted if they after question her about it in the future she will be ‘prepared’ to answer
She also touched on her own father’s work ethic, something she has passed on to her off spring.
Robert sadly passed away aged 59 in September 2003 following a battle with oesophageal cancer.
Kim recalled: ‘My dad had me sign a contract for everything, When I got a car, I needed to have it washed once a week, make sure that it had enough gas and that I didn’t run it into the ground. It was a gift he gave me at 16, but I had responsibilities.’
And now North can be found most weekends running her own lemonade stall at the end of their street in a bid to earn some extra cash.
‘She gets a huge pitcher and fills it, puts it in her wagon, and goes down to the corner, she has a table and chairs and fans to keep herself cool. She makes signs’.
‘She stays there hours and hours. Her friends help, so she splits the money with them. If a random person stops, she will charge them only $2. If she knows you, she will fully scam you’.
Adding: ‘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”.
Out now: Read What Kim Kardashian Learned from Her Father by Sean Manning on GQ.com and in GQ’s Men of the Year issue