Kim Kardashian still remembers one of the most challenging moments of her life. In a new biography out today, titled “Citizen Kim: The Woman Who Created the Future,” Kardashian looks back on her life and career, including the death of her father, Robert Kardashian.
© Ron GalellaRobert Kardashian died after an esophageal cancer diagnosis when he was 59 years old. Kim was 22. “The last thing my dad ever said to me was, ‘I know you’re going to be good — I can see it. It’s as if I can see what your whole life is going to be like,’” she told the book’s author, Jonathan Van Meter.
“My dad didn’t go into detail, and he was kind of in and out of it.”
Kim went on to recall more details about their exchange. “He put his hand on my leg. I’ll never forget it. And I was laying next to him on this couch — this L-shaped couch — and we were kind of squished in this way, watching a movie,” she continued.
© Robert Smith“And he said, ‘You’ll be fine. But take care of the other ones. And make sure your brother’s good.’”
Kim also opened up about the moment right before Robert’s death, when he could no longer speak. “He couldn’t communicate, but he was in his little bed and I knew his vitals were almost gone, and the last thing I said to him was, ‘Dad, thank you so much for everything that you’ve taught me, from how to be a good person, to how you did my homework with me, everything I’m going to do with my kids one day. And I’m going to take the lesson of you being in my life and carry that forward.’” He died at the age of 59.
More details about the Kardashian family
© WireImageWhile the Kardashian family is one of the world’s most famous families, before Robert Kardashian’s death, they had a much lower profile. Kris Jenner and Robert were married from 1978 until 1991, with the couple divorcing after Kris had an affair with the soccer player Todd Waterman.
She’s addressed that moment publicly, calling it her life’s biggest regret. “He was such a great husband and such a great dad,” said Kris in a 2023 episode of The Kardashians. “And I think that I fell into a situation where I thought that the grass was greener somewhere else, and I made a huge mistake. That’s my life’s biggest regret.”
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