After more than a decade of much of the world literally ‘keeping up with the Kardashians’ on their reality television show of that name, it seems we now might be keeping up with less of them.
Last month, Kourtney Kardashian, 40, announced she was indefinitely leaving the show, which mainly focuses on the lives of her and her two sisters, Kim, 39, and Khloe, 35, and their mum, Kris Jenner.
The announcement came after an increasing tension between eldest sister Kourtney, and her two younger siblings, over the last year. Of course, ‘increasing tension’ in Kardashian-speak means drama, and not just their standard sibling bickering.
It’s sad, it’s uncomfortable to watch, and yes, it’s got a lot to do with money. And also a love bite on Kourtney’s neck which she tried to hide from her sisters.
Here’s everything we know about what’s gone down between the three sisters in the last year.
July 2018.
An episode of KUWTK had a scene where the sisters were especially snarky with Kourtney.
“I’m so afraid of her,” both Kim and Khloe say, wondering why Kourtney appears to have an “attitude”.
Kourtney walks in on the conversation, and refuses to look up from her phone, even when Kim begins discussing her upcoming baby shower – and asks for help with it.
A poker-faced Kourtney ignores the conversation, provoking Kim to tell Khloe sarcastically, “Thanks for being so present.”
Suddenly, Kourtney criticises Khloe’s choice in furniture in her home; which naturally disintegrates into a slanging match full of accusations about who is meaner to whom.
“What is up your ass?” Khloe finally asks. “Why are you so bitchy these days?”
“I’m a born bitch,” Kourtney responds, with an unapologetic smile, and thus starts the beginning of the end.
August 1, 2018.
In one of the best/worst fights of the entire series, Kim tells Kris and Khloe that Kourtney’s the “least interesting to look at”, when Kourtney refuses to change her schedule to accommodate the photo shoot for the family Christmas card.
“We don’t want you in the shoot!” Kim screeches repeatedly, as mum Kris implores her children (literally) to be nice to each other.
But they won’t be. Sixty seconds of expletives being beeped later, Kourtney calmly leaves after Kim tells her to “Get the f*ck out”, a number of times.
You can see why Kim was so upset; there’s nothing more annoying when you’re losing your sh*t than watching the other person be totally composed, and not give in to your bullying.
However, Kourtney does later call Khloe about her “bitch family”, very hurt that Kim said she’s the least interesting to look at.
“You don’t say things like that. You guys have different values to me,” a tearful Kourtney says.
Explaining that it was also mean of Kim to accuse her of not having a job and coasting on the rest of the family’s income, she says, “I choose to be a mother to my three kids.” (Mason, Penelope and Reign are the children Kourtney had with former husband Scott Disick.)
Kim won’t back down, and Kourtney finally calls her a “distraught, evil human being,” adding that she doesn’t want to see her sister.
The eldest Kardashian sister sticks to that plan – and doesn’t attend Kim’s baby shower.
August 2 -5, 2018.
Kim replies to a tweet and claims that Kourtney is here for the Kardashian bank account, but doesn’t want to work for it, which is something she can’t respect.
Naturally, a full-blown Twitter war erupts.
“Kourt wouldn’t budge to help a sis out!” – Kim
“We all have our own priorities. Mine is being a mother.” – Kourtney
“The shoot was with our kids!” – Kim
“Being a good mother also has different meaning to each of us. You’re an amazing mother, I’m not taking that away from you.” – Kourtney
And finally, making it crystal clear that all she’s asking for is respect and boundaries, Kourtney tweets:
“We’re ride or die. But I don’t accept the way we criticise and judge each other anymore. My personal growth doesn’t allow it.”
August 10, 2018.
The argument of work ethic and family values continues, in front of the world:
“Everything to you guys, the show is more important, work is more important,” Kourtney says to her family during a therapy session which airs that week.
“We all have different priorities and working, it’s not my top priority. It’s never going to be.”
In a move that proves the tension is about money, a later episode sees Khloe saying:
“She could f*cking shove Kardashian up her f*cking vagina. No one cares. We should say, ‘Oh, you don’t want to be a Kardashian? Let’s pull all of your Kardashian privileges.’”
September 2018.
Khloe announces that if something ever happens to her, she would want Kim to look after her daughter, True – not Kourtney – further placing a divide between the elder and younger sisters.
November, 2018.
Kim ‘apologises’ to Kourtney for saying she was the least interesting to look at…by explaining that she meant she was “the most boring”. Kourtney does not accept this explanation.
May, 2019.
In an interview with Paper, Kourtney admitted that she was growing tired of the reality show, and of fame.
“I always say I want to move away someday and just be away from it all. Sail away. No one will ever see me again.”
September 2019.
On the show, Kourtney accuses Kim of being fake because she’s going to Law school and wants to continue advocating for prisoners who’ve been given lengthy sentences for minor charges – despite leading a lavish lifestyle.
Kim doesn’t take it well, and accuses her sister of being the one who is fake.
“You f*ckin’ fake humanitarian ho.
“I actually do sh*t for the world and you f*cking fake it all day long and act like, ‘Oh! There’s people dying, Kim.’
“And what the f*ck are you doing about it? So shut the f*ck up.”
November, 2019.
During an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Kourtney confirms she’s taking a step back from KUWTK.
“I just decided to spend more time as a mom and put more of my energy there. But I’m not saying goodbye.”
December 2019.
Kourtney asks her sisters to respect her boundaries, in particular about her dating life; after they discover a love bite on her neck which she’s trying to hide from them.
But Khloe and Kim note that if Kourtney won’t contribute by sharing her life, they need to create other content themselves, which is more work for them.
“Our job is to be open and honest and share our lives,” Kim explains.
But Kourtney thinks there’s a “fine line” which should be observed. For example, she says she feels vulnerable since sharing her anxiety issues.
Khloe later tweeted, “If we all started concealing major areas of our life then what would there be to film?
“I’m completely OK with people having boundaries but you have to be present in the areas you’re willing to share.”
On a family trip to Wyoming, Kris attempts to reconcile her daughters, but it seems it’s too soon for all of them.
Because this is Kim’s face when Kris tries to get them to engage with each other:
So, if you’re worried about interacting with family this Christmas, spare a thought for the Kardashians – it may be one of their most awkward ones yet.
Top Comments
FYI to the author - Scott Disick was never Kourtney’s husband.