Kim Kardashian and Kanye West filed for divorce in 2021, but trouble in their marriage began years earlier. West’s string of erratic behavior in 2016 put a serious strain on their relationship, compounded by the rapper’s very vocal support for former President Trump and numerous controversial remarks.
Kardashian first spoke publicly about West’s bipolar diagnosis in 2020, asking the public for compassion and empathy as they worked through their struggles as a family.
“I’ve never spoken publicly about how this has affected us at home because I am very protective of our children and Kanye’s right to privacy when it comes to his health,” Kardashian wrote on Instagram. ” … I kindly ask that the media and public give us the compassion and empathy that is needed so that we can get through this.”
Despite Kardashian’s reported attempts to fix the marriage, rumblings of divorce came to a head in early 2021, and by February, the SKIMS founder had officially filed. In November 2022, the divorce was finalized.
Keep reading for a complete timeline of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s divorce.
February 2016: Kim Kardashian is reportedly frustrated with Kanye West’s numerous Twitter rants
Nearly two years after marrying in 2014, West embarked on a Twitter rampage that involved controversial rants and sparking feuds with celebrities such as Wiz Khalifa and Taylor Swift.
A source told PEOPLE that while “Kim is a very supportive wife,” she was not happy with her husband’s behavior on social media.
“What causes friction in the marriage, however, is Kanye’s compulsive tweeting,” the source said. “Kim can’t stand it. She is all for self-promotion, but doesn’t approve of Twitter drama.”
November 21, 2016: Kanye West is hospitalized for exhaustion
After reportedly “acting erratically” at his trainer’s home, West was taken to UCLA Medical Center for a psychiatric evaluation. A source told PEOPLE that the breakdown only added to the strain on his and Kardashian’s marriage, especially considering the couple was still dealing with the aftermath of Kardashian’s traumatic robbery in Paris.
“Kim has had a very rough time since the robbery,” said the source. “It hasn’t helped that Kanye has been touring. Their lives have been quite chaotic. It’s been very trying for them both and not a good recipe for a happy marriage.”
December 2016: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West begin living apart as West undergoes outpatient treatment
West was released from the hospital in early December but did not return home to his family, a source told PEOPLE.
“He is receiving outpatient care somewhere else with a medical team,” said the source. “Kim still seems concerned but is supportive. They don’t know for how long Kanye will need outpatient care.”
December 13, 2016: Kanye West’s meeting with Donald Trump causes tension with Kim Kardashian
West’s meeting with former President Trump put even more strain on his marriage with Kardashian, but their inner circle encouraged them to work through their issues.
“Lots of couples have political differences; that’s not a deal breaker. They’re dealing with much more important things than who each of them supported for President,” a source told PEOPLE, likely referring to Kardashian’s recent robbery in Paris and West’s mental health.
“We’re telling them to hold on, to get through this,” added the source, who also said that Kardashian had no “imminent plans to file for divorce.” “They both need to understand that adversity is what will make them stronger as a couple.”
December 2016: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are reportedly in therapy as divorce rumors are denied
Amid a series of stressful events for the couple, Kardashian and West began receiving individual therapy, a source told
“Kim is dealing with the trauma from the robbery,” the insider said. “Kanye is receiving help for depression and learning how to cope with stress better.”
The source also clarified that they were not undergoing couples therapy and had no plans to divorce, saying, “Truly no truth behind divorce rumors. It’s not something she would divorce him over. He had a breakdown, but it does not pertain to them not getting along.”
January 2017: A source says things are “not great” in Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s relationship
Though the couple spent the holidays together with their children, a source told PEOPLE that things were “still not great” in Kardashian and West’s marriage.
“Kim and Kanye continue to spend time with the kids,” they said. “They act friendly, but the passion seems to be missing.”
January 2017: Kim Kardashian remains “hopeful” about her marriage with Kanye West
Kardashian and West’s marriage still appeared rocky, but Kardashian remained hopeful about their relationship.
“It doesn’t seem like they have plans to split now,” a source told PEOPLE. “Things don’t seem great, but it also seems they are working to change that. Kanye has been very low-key and Kim appreciates that. With her life not being completely chaotic, she is able to be more understanding and patient with Kanye. Kim seems more hopeful about their future together.”
May 1, 2017: Kim Kardashian attends the Met Gala without Kanye West
In May 2017, Kardashian attended the Met Gala without her husband by her side, telling Vogue’s André Leon Talley that the rapper had “been taking some time off and really loving that.”
Ahead of the annual Gala, a source told PEOPLE that West was simply not ready for big public events. “He’s doing great but wants to keep his stress levels low and just wants to take more time off,” they said. “Kim and Kanye are in a great place.”
June 2017: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West hire a surrogate
In June 2017, Kardashian and West decided to expand their family via a surrogate due to Kardashian’s previous pregnancy complications. When pregnant with both of her first two children, North and Saint, the star suffered from placenta accreta, a condition in which the placenta grows into the wall of the womb and prevents it from easily detaching at the time of birth, and was told she wouldn’t be able to carry another baby.
A source told PEOPLE that the couple had “found the perfect surrogate” and were excited about welcoming a third child. “If things work out with the surrogate, they will be thrilled,” the source said. “But they still have a long road to go.”
January 15, 2018: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West welcome daughter Chicago West
On Jan. 15, 2018, Kardashian and West welcomed their third child, daughter Chicago West.”Kanye and I are happy to announce the arrival of our healthy, beautiful baby girl,” Kardashian West wrote in a post titled “She’s Here!”
She continued: “We are incredibly grateful to our surrogate who made our dreams come true with the greatest gift one could give and to our wonderful doctors and nurses for their special care.”
in their marriage to filing for divorce, here’s a breakdown of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s split
May 10, 2019: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West welcome son Psalm West
One year after the arrival of their daughter Chicago, PEOPLE confirmed that Kardashian and West were expecting their fourth child. On May 10, 2019, Kardashian announced the birth of their son by tweeting, “He’s here and he’s perfect!” Just seven days later, the couple revealed his name to be Psalm.
July 4, 2020: Kim Kardashian shows support for Kanye West as he announces his plan to run for President of the United States
On July 4, 2020, West took to Twitter to announce his intention to run for president in the upcoming election, stating, “We must now realize the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future. I am running for president of the United States! #2020VISION.”
Kardashian demonstrated her support by retweeting his statement along with an American flag emoji.
Following a Twitter spree where West made claims about Kris Jenner and contemplated divorcing his wife, Kardashian addressed the situation publicly, discussing the rapper’s bipolar diagnosis for the first time.
In a lengthy note shared on her Instagram Story, she began, “As many of you know, Kanye has bipolar disorder.” Kardashian explained that she had not previously spoken about the impact of his condition on their family out of respect for their children and West’s privacy regarding his health.
Describing West as a “brilliant and complicated person,” Kardashian acknowledged that sometimes his words don’t align with his intentions.
She requested understanding and compassion from the media and the public, emphasizing the importance of empathy in navigating their situation. Kardashian expressed gratitude for those who had shown concern for West’s well-being and for their understanding.
In January 2021, multiple sources confirmed that Kardashian was planning to file for divorce from West.
“He knows that she’s done,” one source said. “She has had enough, and she told him that she wants some space to figure out her future.”
“He’s okay. He’s sad, but okay. He knows the inevitable will happen, and he knows that it’s coming soon,” the source added.
February 19, 2021: Kim Kardashian files for divorce from Kanye West
Source link