In a rare, wide-ranging conversation on her sister Khloé Kardashian’s podcast “Khloé in Wonder,” Kim Kardashian addressed three of the most persistent narratives that have followed her for years: the decade-long Taylor Swift feud, the intense public criticism directed at her 12-year-old daughter North West, and the never-ending ripple effects of her ex-husband Kanye West’s public behavior and their divorce.

The episode, released January 28, 2026, ran nearly two hours and quickly became one of the most-streamed episodes in the podcast’s history. Kim spoke with unusual candor, at times visibly emotional, about the toll of constant scrutiny, the protective instincts she feels as a mother, and the deliberate choice she has made to stay mostly silent on certain topics until now.

On the Taylor Swift feud — which originated in 2009 when Kanye interrupted Swift’s MTV Video Music Awards acceptance speech and escalated dramatically in 2016 with the release of his song “Famous” and the leaked “that b*tch” phone call — Kim said she has carried regret for how the situation unfolded but stands by her actions at the time.

“I’ve never spoken about this in depth because I didn’t want to keep feeding the cycle,” she explained. “But yes, I released the call because I felt the narrative was being shaped in a way that wasn’t accurate. I thought transparency would end it. Instead it made everything worse for a long time. I understand why people were upset. I understand why Taylor was hurt. I’ve apologized privately more than once. At this point I just hope everyone can move forward.”

She acknowledged the cultural shift around the incident — how it has been re-examined through the lens of cancel culture, consent in recorded conversations, and the role of editing — but stopped short of issuing a fresh public apology. “I’ve learned a lot about how words and moments can be weaponized on both sides. I wish it had never happened the way it did. But I can’t change 2009 or 2016. I can only control how I show up now.”

The conversation shifted to North West, who has faced relentless online commentary about her fashion choices, social-media presence, and perceived “attitude” since she was a toddler. Kim became visibly emotional when the topic arose.

“North is 12. She’s a child. She’s creative, opinionated, confident — and yes, sometimes she’s sassy, because she’s a pre-teen girl who knows what she likes. The amount of grown adults who feel entitled to criticize her appearance, her voice, her energy… it’s disturbing. I let her express herself because I want her to feel free. But I also have to protect her. There are nights I sit with her while she reads comments people leave about her and I have to explain why strangers feel they can judge a little girl they’ve never met.”

Kim revealed that she and Kanye have ongoing discussions about North’s public exposure. “We don’t always agree, but we both want what’s best for her. I’ve limited what I share now. She still asks to post sometimes, and I let her — with supervision — because it’s her life too. But the hate she receives? That part breaks my heart every single day.”

The third pillar of the interview — Kanye West — remains the most complicated. Kim filed for divorce in February 2021, and the split was finalized in November 2022. Since then Kanye’s public behavior has included antisemitic remarks, erratic social-media posts, and inflammatory interviews that have repeatedly dragged Kim and their children into controversy.

“I’ve tried very hard to keep my children out of the middle,” Kim said. “I don’t speak ill of their father publicly because they love him, and they deserve to have that relationship without feeling they have to choose sides. But there are moments when his actions make that very difficult. I’ve had to have hard conversations with my kids about things they’ve seen online. That’s not fair to them.”

She addressed recent headlines about Kanye’s comments on her parenting, her dating life, and her friendships, saying: “I don’t respond because responding keeps the cycle alive. I focus on what I can control — my home, my children’s stability, my work. I wish him peace. I truly do. But peace for him can’t come at the expense of peace for us.”

The interview also touched on lighter topics — her SKIMS empire, her new fragrance line, her friendship with Khloé — but the emotional core remained the personal toll of public life. Kim admitted to periods of anxiety, moments of questioning whether she should step back entirely, and the ongoing effort to protect her children’s mental health in a world that watches their every move.

Khloé, who has been open about her own struggles with co-parenting and public scrutiny, asked pointed but gentle questions that allowed Kim to speak honestly without defensiveness. The sisters shared a few laughs over shared memories, but the prevailing tone was one of quiet resolve. Kim repeatedly returned to the same theme: protecting her children’s childhood while allowing them space to be themselves, even when the world is watching.

The response online was immediate and polarized. Supporters praised Kim for her vulnerability, her refusal to engage in tit-for-tat drama, and her focus on her children’s wellbeing. Critics accused her of selective silence — speaking out when it suits her narrative while ignoring Kanye’s pain or accountability. A vocal group of Swifties resurfaced old grievances, insisting Kim has never truly taken responsibility for the 2016 phone-call controversy.

Yet the overwhelming sentiment was empathy. Many parents — regardless of their feelings about Kim Kardashian — related to the exhaustion of navigating public scrutiny while trying to raise grounded, confident children. The interview humanized a woman often reduced to caricature: a mother who cries over hate comments directed at her daughter, who regrets certain past actions, who still believes in protecting her ex-husband’s relationship with their kids even when it’s painful.

As awards season looms and Kim’s star continues to rise in new directions — acting, business, philanthropy — the podcast moment may prove defining. It showed a woman who has spent nearly two decades in the unrelenting glare of fame finally choosing to speak — not to attack, not to defend, but to explain, to protect, and to move forward.

The headlines may focus on the feud, the name, the drama. But the real story is quieter: a mother doing her best in impossible circumstances, hoping her children grow up knowing they are loved louder than any headline.