Kim Kardashian has revealed how her parents’ divorce helped her cope with her split from ex-husband Kanye West.
The 43-year-old reality star was just nine years old when the marriage collapsed, a similar age to her eldest daughter North, who turned 10 in June.
Kris and Robert Kardashian were married for 13 years and shared children Kim, Kourtney, 44, Khloe, 39, and Robert Jr., 36, before splitting in 1991.
On 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 their painful separation, which they did with hers had tried with his own children.
Telling the publication: “I didn’t foresee this.” [her parent’s divorce]“I was in the bathroom and they called a family meeting.”
Kim Kardashian has revealed how her parents’ divorce helped her cope with her split from ex-husband Kanye West
Candid: The reality star was just nine years old when the marriage collapsed, a similar age to her eldest daughter North, who turned ten in June (pictured with Kanye in 2016).
“I remember thinking, ‘Please, Lord, don’t let them get divorced.'” I never thought it would happen, but I knew they would tell us. I felt it.’
Speaking about how this affected the breakup of her own marriage, she continued: “I thought about how my parents handled it.”
“I just remember them being open… At the end of the day, what matters is that kids feel loved and heard.” You want to be sensitive because they’re still kids and it’s hard to go through that, no matter the situation Dude.”
Adding, “You have to make sure you only go to a level that they can understand.” It’s okay to show a vulnerable side. You never turn a negative side.’
Kanye and Kim began dating in 2012. The couple tied the knot in 2014 and have four children together: daughters North, 10, and Chicago, 5, and sons Psalm, 4, and Saint, 7.
Kim filed for divorce from the rapper in 2021, citing irreconcilable differences and initially agreeing to shared custody before a split in 2022 that saw the former couple argue over the children.
In addition to turning to a child psychologist for help and parenting advice, she also gushed to the publication about how she relies on her Christian faith to get through difficult times.
She says how she and her children pray every night before confessing, “I’m probably more religious than most people realize.”
Family: On 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 separation, which they did with hers own children (Kim and North pictured together)
Father: Kris and Robert Kardashian (pictured with his children in 1994) were married for 13 years and shared children Kim, Kourtney, 44, Khloe, 39, and Robert Jr., 36, before splitting in 1991
She also touched on her own father’s work ethic, which she passed on to her offspring.
Kim recalled: “My dad made me sign a contract for everything. When I got a car I had to have it washed once a week, make sure it had enough gas and that I didn’t drive it into the ground.” “It was a gift he gave me when I was 16, but I had Responsibility.”
And now, most weekends, North can be found running her own lemonade stand at the end of her street to make some extra money.
Out now: Read “What Kim Kardashian Learned from Her Father” by Sean Manning on GQ.com and in the GQ Men of the Year issue.