Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s Relationship Timeline: A Look Back at Their Complicated Love Story

Early 2000s

Ready for some nostalgia? Kim and Kanye were introduced to each other for the first time back in 2002 or 2003, according to the reality star. She opened up about their relationship during the Keeping Up With the Kardashians 10th anniversary special in 2017. 

Early 2000s

“He was recording a song with Brandy, and I was her friend. I vividly remember hanging out with him, and then they did a video together, so I’d see him a few times. He was asking his friends: ‘Who is this Kim Kardajan?’ He didn’t know what my name was,” the makeup mogul dished.

2008

In 2008, Kim and Kanye “really connected” while collaborating on a pilot for a show called Alligator Boots where she played Princess Leia. “In honor of Star Wars: The Force Awakens being released today, I wanted to share these old pics of Kanye and me from years ago,” the reality star later wrote as she shared photos in 2015.

August 2011

Despite their attraction to each other, Kim went on to marry Kris Humphries in 2011, but the two famously ended their relationship only 72 days later. “Right before I got married to Kris Humphries, [Kanye and I] were talking, and I just went a different direction,” she explained during the special.

October 2011

Kim also mentioned how she had to go through the experience to discover what she really wanted in life, revealing that Kanye invited her to his fashion show in Paris after news of her split went public. “I swear from the moment I landed, I fell madly in love with him and I thought, ‘Oh, my God, why didn’t I do this sooner?’ Like, this is what real life is like — love and fun and real support,” the reality star said.

April 2012

By 2012, Yeezy wasn’t hiding his feelings for the TV personality. In his chart-topping single “Cold,” he rapped, “And I’ll admit, I had fell in love with Kim / Around the same time she had fell in love with him / Well, that’s cool, baby girl, do ya thang / Lucky I ain’t had Jay drop him from the team.”

December 2012

Fans were of course ecstatic to discover that Kim was pregnant with Kanye’s child in December 2012. The “Famous” lyricist called Kim his “baby mama” while performing for a crowd in Atlantic City.

May 2013

In May 2013, Kimye hit the red carpet at the Met Gala and she proudly showed off her growing baby bump. The next month, Kim and Kanye welcomed their first bundle of joy — a precious daughter named North.

October 2013

To no surprise, Kanye pulled out the stops when he popped the question to the E! star a few months later at the San Francisco Giants baseball stadium, AT&T Park. Kim’s friends and family watched in awe as he got down on one knee, before placing a giant diamond sparkler on her left ring finger.

May 2014

Ah, to be in love! Kim and Kanye’s relatives gathered for their breathtaking nuptials in Florence, Italy, on May 24, 2014.

2015

The couple decided to expand their brood not long after, however Kim opened up about how she was struggling to conceive on a March 2015 episode of KUWTK. Just a few months later, Kim announced that she was expecting baby No. 2, much to the delight of fans. On December 5, 2015, she gave birth to their first son together,Saint West.

October 2016

Unfortunately, the next year was full of trials and tribulations for the power couple. In 2016, Kim was robbed at gunpoint during her stay at a Parisian hotel and the incident deeply affected her. 

November 2016

Kanye was also hospitalized in 2016 for exhaustion, which forced him to cancel scheduled appearances and concerts in order to focus on his health and well-being. 

July 2017

The dynamic duo managed to come out stronger by uniting during their hardships. In 2017, it was revealed that Kim and Kanye decided to try surrogacy after dealing with preeclampsia during her previous pregnancies. 

January 2018

In January 2018, Kimye were officially parents of three! Their surrogate gave birth to sweet Chicago West and the couple were “incredibly grateful” to the woman who made their “dreams come true.”

August 2018

By the summer, Kim and Kanye were plagued by breakup rumors. However, her mom, Kris Jenner, confirmed to Us Weekly they were still going strong despite dealing with some “hiccups” along the way. “They’re so connected, and they love each other very much, and they have a family that they’re committed to. They’re committed to one another, and people, you’re not always going to agree with each other forever,” Kris said.

January 2019

Way to kick off the new year! In January 2019, it was announced they were expecting their fourth child via surrogate.

May 2019

On May 10, Kim shared some very exciting news with her followers. “He’s here and he’s perfect,” she wrote about their darling new addition to the family, a son named Psalm West.

May 2019

For their five-year anniversary, Kim surprised Kanye with a vow renewal ceremony. Fans watched as the “nice, really pretty, romantic evening” came together in an October 2019 episode of KUWTK. Though the actual vow exchange happened offscreen, Kim got a little practice with son Saint in front of cameras. “You are my husband. You are my best friend,” she said. “My biggest believer and my one true love.”

October 2019

In an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music’s Beats 1, Kanye gushed about how far they’d come. “What I learned from five years of marriage is, it is the greatest bond, it is a God bond to be able to have someone that you can call on, someone you can call out, someone that can call on you and call you out,” he said. “Equally yoked. Someone to complain to and someone to grow with as we grow and raise our children.”

November 2019

They soon seemed to hit a snag, however. Insiders told In Touch the rapper became “100 percent more controlling” — and his wife was starting to get “fed up with having to defend herself.” While she mostly did her best to “ignore” him, things were reaching a fever pitch. “Anything Kim does that he feels isn’t ‘godly,’ he speaks out and tries to stop her. For a long time, Kim’s given Kanye space for his self-expression with the agreement that he’d keep her out of it,” the source said. “But with his newfound religious ways, it’s impossible for him to separate how he feels and his marriage.”

July 2020

On the 4th of July, the famous couple stepped into the political arena as Kanye announced he was running for president, and he seemed to have his wife’s support. Quote tweeting his announcement, she added a simple American flag emoji.

July 2020

After his July 19 campaign rally in South Carolina, that support may have wavered. The rapper opened up about his feelings on abortion, explaining he initially wanted Kim to have an abortion during her pregnancy with their first child and revealing his dad wanted his mother to have an abortion when she was pregnant with him. “The family has told Kim, ‘You need to step in,’” a source told In Touch. “He was telling the crowd about Kim’s accidental pregnancy with North, their discussion about having an abortion — private matters that Kim would never want discussed. … She’s scared of where [this] is headed and what he may do next.”

July 2020

It appears the KKW Beauty founder did speak up, but her husband shut her down. In a since-deleted Twitter rant, he took aim at her and her family as he claimed they tried to “lock him up” to stop him from speaking out. “Kim was trying to fly to Wyoming with a doctor to lock me up like [in] the movie Get Out because I cried about saving my daughter’s life yesterday,” he wrote in one message. “I put my life on my God that North’s mom would never photograph her doing playboy and that’s on God. I’m at the ranch … come and get me,” he said in another. He also claimed mother-in-law Kris is “not allowed around [his] children” and is “avoiding [his] calls.”

July 2020

On July 21, the “Closed on Sunday” rapper seemed to suggest things really were over between him and Kim when he tweeted, “They tried to fly in with two doctors to [put me on a temporary, involuntary psychiatric hold]. I been trying to get divorced since Kim met with [rapper Meek Mill] at the Waldorf for ‘prison reform.’” He clarified in an additional tweet that “Meek is [his] man and was respectful,’ but pointed the finger at his wife. “Kim was out of line,” he said. “I’m worth $5 billion … and more than that through Christ.”

July 2020

Kim finally broke her silence about what she appeared to suggest was a mental health episode when she got real with fans on July 22. In an Instagram Story, she explained, “As many of you know, Kanye has bi-polar disorder. Anyone who has this, or has a loved one in their life who does, knows how incredibly complicated and painful it is to understand. 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. But, today, I feel like I should comment on it because of the stigma and misconceptions about mental health. Those that understand mental illness or even compulsive behavior know that the family is powerless unless the member is a minor. People who are unaware or far removed from this experience can be judgmental and not understand that the individual themselves [has] to engage in the process of getting help no matter how hard family and friends try. … I understand Kanye is subject to criticism because he is a public figure, and his actions at times can cause strong opinions and emotions. He is a brilliant but complicated person who, on top of the pressures of being an artist and a Black man, … experienced the painful loss of his mother and has to deal with the pressure and isolation that is heightened by his bi-polar disorder. Those who are close with Kanye know his heart and understand his words sometimes do not align with his intentions. Living with bi-polar disorder does not diminish or invalidate his dreams and his creative ideas, no matter how big or unobtainable they may feel to some. That is part of his genius and, as we have all witnessed, many of his big dreams have come true. … We as a society talk about giving grace to the issue of mental health as a whole, however we should also give it to the individuals who are living with it in times when they need it the most. I kindly ask that the media and public give us the compassion and empathy that is needed so that we can get through this. Thank you for those who have expressed concern for Kanye’s well being and for your understanding. With love and gratitude, Kim Kardashian West.”

July 2020

On July 25, Kanye issued a public apology to Kim for his behavior. “I would like to apologize to my wife Kim for going public with something that was a private matter,” he wrote on Twitter. “I did not cover her like she has covered me. To Kim I want to say I know I hurt you. Please forgive me. Thank you for always being there for me.” 

July 2020

Kim tearfully reunited with her husband in Wyoming on July 27. The two were photographed having a tense conversation in their car outside of a Wendy’s. The following day, she returned to California solo. The mom of four is “trying to hold it together” for their kids, a source told In Touch. “Kim can’t stop crying and is a nervous wreck.”

December 2020

An insider told In Touch Kim and Kanye were “worlds apart” and they were struggling to get on the same page. “They’ve been living separate lives for the past couple of years, and are drifting further and further away from each other,” added the insider.

January 2021

After months of speculation, Kim wanted “to move forward” with divorcing Kanye, multiple sources confirmed to In Touch.

“Kim and Kanye’s marriage has finally reached the point of no return,” a source said. “They spent most of the holidays apart and Kim is talking to divorce lawyers. She is serious this time.”

February 2021

Kim officially filed for divorce, Life & Style confirmed at the time, asking for joint legal and physical custody of their children, North, Saint, Chicago and Psalm.

April 2021

Single and ready to mingle! Kim plans “to take dating slow” after her split, a source told Life & Style. However, the insider added, “Unless, of course, she meets Mr. Right, which every friend she knows is hoping to set her up with.”

April 2021

Almost two months after Kim filed her divorce papers, Kanye responded on April 9, also seeking joint legal and physical custody of their children while requesting that the judge terminate the court’s ability to award spousal support to each other. Despite their divorce, Kim and Kanye “are striving to be amicable,” a source told In Touch days after Kanye filed in response.

June 2021

In an episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians that aired on June 3, Kim said she felt “stuck” in her marriage to Kanye before their split. Of her marriage to the rapper, the KKW mogul told her sisters, “I just honestly can’t do this anymore. Why am I still in this place where I’m stuck for years? He goes and moves to a different state every year. I have to be, like, together so I can raise the kids.”

June 2021

Kanye was spotted walking with model Irina Shayk on June 8 in Provence, France, amid rumors that the two started dating between March and May of that year. An insider told Life & Style four days later that Ye “loves the idea” of the two becoming “Hollywood’s next power couple.” 
“Irina’s fashion is very high-end, she has her own sense of style, even when she’s just dropping her daughter off at school, which Kanye really appreciates,” the source explained. “They would definitely inspire each other and they’d be a force to reckon with in the fashion world It’s what Kanye’s always wanted.”
The pair, however, fizzled out by late August. 

October 2021

Kim joked about her divorce from the “Jesus Walks” rapper when she hosted Saturday Night Live on October 9. 
“He’s the richest Black man in America,” she said in her monologue. “A talented, legit genius who gave me four incredible kids. So, when I divorced him, you have to know it came down to just one thing. His personality.”

October 2021

Kim was seen out and about with Pete Davidson at Knott’s Scary Farm in Buena Park, California, on October 29. The Saturday Night Live star was the first man she started publicly hanging out with following her split from Kanye. 

November 2021

Kim fueled dating rumors with Pete after being spotted again on two date nights in a row. The pair were spotted on a rooftop dinner date in Staten Island on November 2, then again at the exclusive New York City club Zero Bond with a group of friends on November 3.

November 2021

Amid dating rumors between Kim and Pete Davidson, Kanye revealed he still wanted to be with his estranged wife on an episode of N.O.R.E & DJ EFN’s “Drink Champs.”

“SNL making my wife say ‘I divorced him’ because they just wanted to get that bar off, and I ain’t never even seen the papers, we’re not even divorced,” the “Good Morning” rapper claimed.

November 2021

It’s confirmed that Kim and Pete are dating! 
“Sparks flew on the set of Saturday Night Live,” an insider revealed to Life & Style on November 6. “Kim never expected this. Pete makes her laugh. She has fun with him.”
The source added that Kim is “not overthinking things at this point. It’s so early. All she knows right now is he’s a sweetheart.” 

November 2021

After publicly talking about the “mistakes” he made with his estranged wife in a speech at the Los Angeles Mission’s annual pre-Thanksgiving event in Skid Row on November 24, Kanye shared a screenshot of an old black and white photo of him kissing Kim to his Instagram Stories the next day.

“The narrative God wants is to see that we can be redeemed in all these relationships,” Ye said during his LA speech. “I’ve publicly done things that were not acceptable as a husband … but I’m here to change the narrative”

December 2021

At a Free Larry Hoover concert, Ye publicly begged Kim to reunite with him, as he switched the lyrics to the track “Runaway” from “run away from me, baby” to “run right back to me, baby.” He then called Kim by name at the end of his performance.

January 2022

The “Stronger” rapper started a relationship with the Uncut Gems actress in early 2022 and fans noticed Julia’s sense of style resembled that of Kim’s.

Not only that, but Ye’s Hollywood Unlocked interview was published that month. In it, he recollected an alleged incident with Kim’s security team and his role as a father.

By the end of January, Ye dropped his song “Eazy,” which includes lyrics that seemingly slam the Kardashian-Jenner family’s method of raising kids and the SNL comedian.

“Boujee and unruly, y’all need to do some chores,” Ye raps in one verse. “The cameras watch the kids, y’all stop takin’ the credit … God saved me from the crash, just so I can beat Pete Davidson’s ass.”

February 2022

The Yeezy designer shared a video from North’s TikTok account via Instagram, disagreeing with how the reality star allows their children to use social media.

“Since this is my first divorce, I need to know what I should do about my daughter being put on TikTok against my will?” he captioned the Instagram post on February 4.

February 2022

Kim responded to Ye’s Instagram post by sharing a lengthy message to her Instagram Stories.

“Kanye’s constant attacks on me in interviews and on social media is actually more hurtful than any TikTok North might create,” she wrote on February 4. “As the parent who is the main provider and caregiver for our children, I am doing my best to protect our daughter, while also allowing her to express her creativity in the medium that she wishes with adult supervision — because it brings her happiness.”

The KUWTK alum continued, “Divorce is difficult enough on our children and Kanye’s obsession with trying to control and manipulate our situation so negatively and publicly is only causing further pain for all. From the beginning, I have wanted nothing but a healthy and supportive coparenting relationship because it is what is best for our children and it saddens me that Kanye continues to make it impossible every step of the way.”

Kim ended her message with one demand: “I wish to handle all matters regarding our children privately and, hopefully, he can finally respond to the third attorney he has had in the last year to resolve any issues amicably.”

February 2022

The “Eazy” artist fired back at the Skims founder’s response to his original Instagram post on February 4.

“What do you mean by main provider?” Ye captioned a screenshot of Kim’s Instagram Story before he made several allegations. “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. I had to take a drug test after Chicago’s party ’cause you accused me of being on drugs. Tracy Romulus, stop manipulating Kim to be this way.”

He then uploaded a second screenshot to his Instagram feed of what appeared to be TikTok’s general sign-up requirements. The description included the classification of those under age 13 as “Younger Users,” seemingly as Ye’s reference to North being 8 years old at the time.

Ye’s Social Media Return

Following a hiatus, Kanye returned to social media on September 1 to call out Kris and vowed to never let his daughters pose for Playboy like Kim previously did.
“Don’t let Kris make you do Playboy like she made Kylie and Kim,” he wrote next to a photo of Kylie’s close friend and former assistant, Victoria Villaroel. Kanye called Hollywood “a giant brothel” and claimed “Pornography destroyed my family I deal with the addiction. Instagram promotes it. Not gonna let it happen to Northy and Chicago,” referring to his daughters whom he shares with Kim.
In a separate post, Kanye shared a text exchange that appeared to be with Kim regarding Kris. “From my mom — PLEASE” it read at the top. The message continued, “Tell him to please stop mentioning my name. I’m almost 67 years old and I don’t always feel great and this stresses me to no end.”
While referring to their daughters, Kanye allegedly replied, “They will not do Playboy and sex tapes.”

September 2022

After making a plethora of public accusations and claims about Kim and her family, the rapper apologized for his behavior during a September 22 appearance on Good Morning America. 

“This is the mother of my children and I apologize for any stress that I have caused, even in my frustration because God calls me to be stronger,” he said, continuing, “But also, ain’t nobody else going to be causing no stress either. I need this person to be least stressed and the best sound mind and as calm as possible to be able to raise those children.”

November 2022

A judge signed off on Kim and Kanye’s divorce on November 29, as the former couple came to an agreement to share joint custody with “equal access” to their four children. The rapper will pay his ex-wife $200,000 per month in child support, as she will continue to have the kids 80 percent of the time.
Neither Kim nor Kanye will receive spousal support, and the pair will equally split responsibility for the children’s security and educational expenses.