From TMZ to Divorce: The Decline of Kanye West and Kim Kardashian’s Marriage

Image via Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

Date: Nov. 18, 2016

What Happened: Having opposing political beliefs can wear any relationship down. Kanye may not have voted for President Trump in the November 2016 election, but he told fans during a concert for his Saint Pablo tour that month that if he had cast a ballot, it would have been for the Republican candidate. Due to Trump’s divisive and often racist discourse during his campaign, fans weren’t pleased, and neither was Kim, who openly supported the 2016 Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

Date: April 25, 2018

What Happened: There was no turning back after Kanye tweeted a photo of himself wearing an autographed “Make America Great Again” hat in support of the president. His fans and the public reacted to the image, and people began making memes about him being in the “sunken place” and saying he was “canceled” for siding with Trump—some even blamed Kim and her famous family.

Date: Nov. 14, 2018

What Happened: Kanye’s political stances became a topic of conversation during Kim's interviews and appearances. After Kanye’s controversial visit to the White House in November 2018—while wearing a MAGA hat—Kim attempted to get people to understand his point of view. While speaking at the Criminal Justice Reform Summit, Kim said she knew the musician’s heart and that he didn’t truly support Trump’s policies, saying that her husband “just happens to like Donald Trump’s personality.” Kim said Kanye is “very not political” and that she had tried to step in. 

“I’ve educated him. I think he gets really misconstrued. He will always say that he was friendly with [Trump] before and is friendly with him now. I think what my husband fights for—and again, he’s not the best communicator at explaining it—but what he fights for is the right to like what he wants to like, even if it’s different from what you like,” she said. “So he’s never said that he supports that. I know it’s very confusing because, when you see someone wearing a red [MAGA] hat, you would think that they’re supporting that. But he’s just fighting for free thought. And for the freedom to like a person, even if it’s not the popular decision.”

Date: Jan. 5, 2021

What Happened: Page Six was first to share the news of multiple sources confirming that the couple’s “divorce is imminent." “They are keeping it low-key but they are done,” a source said. “Kim has hired Laura Wasser and they are in settlement talks.” The outlet reported that Kim hadn’t been wearing her wedding ring, and it does appear to be missing in her recent Instagram photos. Kanye reportedly spent the holidays in Wyoming instead of spending it with the Kardashians.

 “Kim got Kanye to go up there [Wyoming] so they could live separate lives and quietly get things sorted out to separate and divorce. She’s done,” the source added. “Now this divorce is happening because Kim has grown up a lot. She is serious about taking the bar exam and becoming a lawyer, she is serious about her prison reform campaign. Meanwhile, Kanye is talking about running for president and saying other crazy shit, and she’s just had enough of it.” Another source claimed that the rapper also wants out because he found the reality show “unbearable” and “is completely over the entire family…He wants nothing to do with them.” 

E! News reported that Kim is still holding on for the sake of their four kids. "It's gotten to the point where they haven't spent time together as a married couple in months," a source said. "They've seen each other for the sake of the kids but have been living separately. Kim knows the marriage is over. She's known for a while." "She wants to make sure she's making the right decision for the kids,” the source added. "It's not about the marriage anymore, she'll always care for Kanye but it's over between them. Kim is only focused on what's best for the kids. It's a tough decision for her and she's figuring it out."

Date: Jan. 2021

What Happened: Amid reports in early January that the couple was heading for a divorce, TMZ reported that while the couple had a rough 2020, they still hadn’t given up on their relationship and were in marriage counseling. The outlet said that multiple sources confirmed that the marriage had been rocky for the last half of the year and that Kim was ready to call it quits on the marriage but she felt it was "cruel" to do it when Kanye was going through a bipolar episode. The sources claimed the couple had been in counseling for their marriage for "a while."

Date: Jan. 2021

What Happened: The report that the couple was in marriage counseling attempting to salvage their marriage provided some comfort for those who are invested in the pair's relationship. Less than a month later, People reported that they quit counseling and that their relationship might not be on the mend after all and that a split is "fast approaching." A source told the publication that Kim and Kanye have "completely" stopped going to marital therapy and that "he is talking to divorce lawyers this week." Earlier reports claimed the Skims founder was also preparing to file for divorce. "They are just not on the same page when it comes to their future as a family," another source said. "And Kim is okay with it." The insider added: "Kim knows what she wants to do with her life. She wants to keep living in L.A., create the best life for the kids and focus on her work passions."

The couple got married in 2014 in a lavish ceremony but it seems like Kanye's recent presidential run and his Twitter account are to blame for the turmoil in their marriage. "Kim has become more independent and has lost patience with his antics, rants, the presidential campaign, and tweets," a TV industry source told People. "The love story between Kim and Kanye has been over for a long time. They adored each other but have too many differences."

A source told People magazine that Kanye was not reacting well to the idea of losing his wife amid the alleged split and that he “knows what he is losing in Kim.” The reality of their separation has started to settle, and according to the insider, “Kanye is not doing well.” The source added, “He is anxious and very sad. He knows that the marriage is over, and there’s nothing that can be done right now.” 

Kim Kardashian officially filed for divorce from Kanye West on Feb. 19. After months of rumors and growing speculation of a split, TMZ and E! News reported that the reality TV star started divorce proceedings nearly seven years after tying the knot with the rapper. Sources say the split was “amicable,” and that the estranged couple are willing to share legal and joint custody of their four children. The couple is reportedly not contesting their prenuptial agreement, but the terms and details of the contract have not been revealed. The documents, filed by attorney Laura Wasser, list the date of separation as “to be determined.”

The beauty mogul is reportedly concerned about the rapper’s well-being and his mental health after she filed for divorce in February. A source told Entertainment Tonight in early March that Kardashian will “always love Kanye” and the pair are communicating because of their kids, but she’s still worried about his mental stability. “The divorce has been difficult for him, but knowing that he has access to his little ones and has split custody is making the transition easier,” the source said. “Kim and Kanye are in contact with regards to their kids. Kanye has hope that they will reconcile, but he is not expecting that in the immediate future.”

There was a time when Kim and Kanye seemed inseparable, but according to reports, the pair are reportedly no longer on speaking terms. Their split was reportedly amicable but sources told Page Six in March that Kanye had cut off direct contact with his soon-to-be ex-wife even before she filed for divorce in February. The Yeezy designer reportedly made himself unreachable to her and asked Kardashian to communicate with him through his team only in regards to their four children. “Even before Kim filed for divorce, Kanye changed his numbers and said, ‘You can contact me through my security,’” the source said. 

The famous pair might not be on good terms anymore but insiders say that the two are still focused on co-parenting their four children, North, 7, Saint, 5, Chicago, 3, and Psalm, 1. According to Page Six, Kanye visits their kids regularly at their California home while Kim is away, which he requested, and is now an arrangement they have both agreed upon. “She trusts him around the kids. He loves them and is seeing a lot of them,” a source told the outlet. “She leaves the house and he arrives and hangs out with the kids. They have an army of nannies so the transition is easy.” A previous report from People detailed Kanye and Kim’s alleged co-parenting strategy, with a source telling the magazine the rapper will spend time with his kids with a nanny present but he requested Kim’s absence while he’s there. “Kim has made it clear that Kanye can talk to his children anytime he wants,” the source said. “She has never threatened to keep him from the kids. She only requires that he is not going to damage them. She knows he loves them, and they love him. Kanye can FaceTime the kids anytime he wants.”

Jenner opened up about her daughter’s and the rapper’s split for the first time on The Kyle & Jacki O Show podcast in March. “I think it’s always going to be hard any time … you know, there’s a lot of kids,” she said. “The good thing about our family is that we are there for each other and supportive and we love each other very, very much—so all I want is for those two kids to be happy. And I want the kids to be happy. That’s the goal.” When asked if fans will be able to watch the couple’s relationship troubles on the new and final season of Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Jenner said they “might,” but that the KKW founder is keeping some things to herself.  “I don’t know what they have decided on in the finale because we haven’t even seen the first show yet,” she said. “I’m sure they’re putting some final touches, but I think it’s just a private time for them.” 

She continued: “Kim wanted to deal with this with her own family in her own time, so I think that’s going to be for her to work through and process. When she feels like it, I’m sure she’ll say what she needs to say.”

While the start of their relationship was heavily documented on the reality show, Kim was not revealing much about the end of it in this episode. In one scene, Kim took a private phone call away from her family to speak to someone on her husband’s team about arranging a visit to Wyoming to see him and so they can address their issues in person. While the word “divorce” didn’t really come up during the episode, her family seemed to be concerned about how Kim is handling the stress of her relationship. Kourtney Kardashian said she didn’t think her sister could “possibly navigate this on her own,” while Kris suggested that her two other daughters, Kourtney and Khloé, had a girl’s night to lift Kim’s spirits. “Kim handles things really, really private and to herself. She’s someone who is calm and cool and we all respect that. But I know that because she’s not talking about it, even to us in private, that it’s really affecting her,” Khloé said. During another conversation with Kim about her marital troubles, Khloé said that the family is “here to love and support her” regardless of what she “chooses to do.” 

Date: Aug. 28

Following the Donda event in Chicago, a source close to both Kim and Kanye told TMZ that they were “working on rebuilding the foundation of their relationship.” The outlet reported that the option for divorce is still on the table, but that she could withdraw the divorce petition. On the other hand, sources told People that the couple aren’t “calling off” the divorce. but that they are reportedly on better terms. “They have come a long way since Kim filed for divorce,” a source told People. “It’s taken them months to get to this point. Kim is happy that they get along and that things are amicable.” Fans viewed the vow renewal reenactment at the event as a sign that they were back on, but it may have been more about her supporting Kanye’s art. “The kids will always be her number one priority. She wants to have a friendly relationship with Kanye, because it benefits the kids,” the source said. “Filing for divorce was always the most difficult decision for Kim. She only filed because they had issues that they couldn’t solve. She will always love Kanye though.” Adding: “Right now, she is not calling [the divorce] off though.” 

Another music insider told Page Six that while Kanye is reportedly telling people that he and Kim are back together, he’s doing it all for attention: “Kanye has been telling other rappers that he and Kim are back together, but everybody knows that isn’t true. The real story is that Kanye wants to beat Drake in record sales, and he is putting on a big show of performance art to grab all the media attention.”

Date: Dec. 10

Kim filed to become “legally single” amid her divorce proceedings with Kanye on Dec. 10. According to legal documents obtained by TMZ, if the request is cleared by a judge, the order will effectively separate issues like child custody and property ownership from her marital status. She’s also asking for her maiden name to be restored, removing “West” from her name. The filing came a day after the rapper made a public plea for the KKW Beauty founder’s return at his Free Larry Hoover benefit concert featuring Drake. While performing his 2010 hit “Runaway,” the Grammy winner sang, “I need you to run right back to me,” adding: “More specifically, Kimberly.”

Image via Instagram/@kimkardashian

Date: Feb. 4

Ye fired back with another Instagram, sharing his ex’s message on his page and responding to it in the caption. “What do you mean by main provider?” he wrote, responding to Kim saying she is “the parent who is the main provider and caregiver for our children” in her statement. The rapper continued, writing: “America saw you try to kid nap my daughter on her birthday by not providing the address. You put security on me inside of the house to play with my son then accused me of stealing.” He also mentioned publicist Tracy Romulus, telling her “to stop manipulating Kim to be this way” and said that Kardashian made him “take a drug test after Chicago’s party cause you accused me of being on drugs.” 

Date: Nov. 29, 2022

TMZ broke the news that the former couple finalized their divorce with specific agreements in order. According to legal documents obtained by the outlet, West and Kardashian agreed on joint custody with “equal access” to their four kids. In addition, Ye will send Kim $200,000 per month in child support. He’s also responsible to take care of 50 percent of the children’s educational expenses, as well as 50 percent of their security expenses.

A separate report added that Ye gave the Kardashians star the $4.5 million house he purchased next door. “The home borders Kim’s lot, so she’ll likely just tear it down—as it needs a ton of work—and add to her acreage,” TMZ wrote.