Kim Kardashian is clear-eyed about where things stand with Kanye West these days.
The marriage is long over, the headlines haven’t slowed, but the connection remains — tied firmly to the four children they share.
In a recent interview with Complex, published Feb. 5, Kardashian spoke calmly and carefully about her relationship with her ex-husband.
Her message was steady: the past was hard, the present is complicated, and the priority hasn’t changed.
A relationship reshaped, not erased
Kardashian and West first crossed paths in 2012, married two years later, and became one of pop culture’s most watched couples.
By 2021, Kardashian had filed for divorce. It was finalized the following year.
Together, they are parents to North, 12, Saint, 10, Chicago, 8, and Psalm, 6 — a fact Kardashian returns to again and again when discussing West.
“We’ll always be family,” she said, explaining that despite everything, both parents want what’s best for their children.
That shared goal, she suggested, is what keeps communication — however imperfect — possible.
Why those Yeezy boots mattered
Some of the conversation was prompted by a small but widely noticed moment.
In January, Kardashian posted a TikTok styling an outfit for a trip to Aspen and casually mentioned Yeezy boots.
To some viewers, the shoutout felt loaded. Kardashian framed it more simply.
She liked the shoes, she said, and didn’t see a reason to pretend otherwise.
“There’s nothing like a Yeezy heel,” she explained, praising the design and how it worked with her look.
It was a reminder that even after divorce, shared history doesn’t always fit into clean, symbolic boxes.
Stress, boundaries, and protecting her children
Kardashian has been increasingly open about how difficult the past few years have been.
On Hulu’s The Kardashians, she described feeling “very tested” by West’s behavior, particularly as their children got older and more aware.
She said the stress resurfaced her psoriasis and forced her into constant vigilance.
Her focus, she explained, narrowed to one thing: protecting her kids.
Doctors later told her that stress may have played a role in a brain aneurysm diagnosis — a revelation she shared tearfully on the show.
“I’m happy it’s over,” she said of the marriage. “My ex will be in my life no matter what.”
A complicated co-parenting reality
Kardashian has also pushed back on West’s public claims about staying in close contact with their children.
On the show, she said he “never once called,” despite saying otherwise.
She emphasized that she encourages a relationship between her children and their father — but only a healthy one.
What frustrates her most, she said, is having her parenting questioned because of someone else’s actions.
In January, West issued a public apology for past erratic and antisemitic remarks, attributing his behavior to bipolar disorder.
Kardashian did not directly respond, but her comments suggest a careful distance paired with guarded hope.
Why this resonates beyond celebrity news
Strip away the fame, and the story feels familiar.
Divorce doesn’t end shared responsibility, especially when children are involved.
Kardashian’s experience reflects the quiet work many parents do after a relationship ends — managing boundaries, protecting kids, and navigating public narratives that don’t always match private reality.
Her tone wasn’t bitter or dramatic.
It was measured, tired, and focused — the voice of someone who has learned that moving forward doesn’t always mean moving on.
