Photo Credit:Jamie McCarthy/Getty
Lamar Odom’s impact on Khloé Kardashian’s life remains significant nearly a decade after their split.
In the season premiere of The Kardashians, Khloé, 40, reunited with her ex-husband for the first time in over nine years. Their emotional conversation, which took place at Malika Haqq’s house, left her reflecting on their past and his influence on her family.
“I think I’m still processing what this meeting meant to me,” Khloé admitted in a confessional. She then acknowledged the pivotal role Odom, 45, played in her life after her father, Robert Kardashian Sr., passed away in 2003. “Because our dad died so young, Lamar was the first man to come into our lives and take on that ‘head of the household’ role—for all of us,” she explained. “Lamar was everyone’s protector. Even if someone was older, they looked up to him.”
Khloé met Odom six years after her father’s passing, and her family held the former NBA star in high regard. “He was on a pedestal, and rightfully so,” she said. However, the emotional weight of their past still lingers. “The downfall of Lamar hurt and affected every single one of my family members. We still love him and cherish him, but that man just isn’t there anymore.”
Seeing Odom again stirred up complicated emotions for Khloé. “At Malika’s, I realized—I can’t help him anymore. He’ll never be the person we all idolized.”
Approaching her 40th birthday, Khloé wanted to reconnect with her past and release emotional baggage. She recalled how she had to distance herself from Odom after his 2015 overdose, which left him in a coma. Though she initially stepped in to care for him, she ultimately cut ties when he began repeating destructive behaviors.
“I was very upset. I told him, ‘I’m going to Vegas. You need to be out by Monday. That’s it, I’m done,’” she said. “And I haven’t seen Lamar since that day.”
When Odom arrived for their reunion, Khloé noticed his discomfort, but she remained emotionally detached. “I’ve dealt with so much trauma in this relationship. He was the love of my life, and learning to unlove someone—it’s like experiencing a death,” she confessed. “It feels so familiar, yet completely uncharted. I don’t know this person anymore. It’s a total mind f---.”
