Khloé Kardashian is opening up about one of the most vulnerable experiences she faced early in her career — and how an unexpected moment on camera led to a major emotional breakthrough.
During a recent episode of her podcast, Khloé in Wonderland, the 40-year-old Kardashian star shared how confronting grief in front of millions ultimately helped her heal.
Speaking with grief expert and Grief.com founder David Kessler, Khloé revisited the early days of Keeping Up with the Kardashians. She recalled how, during the first season, she was urged by a producer to discuss the loss of her beloved father, Robert Kardashian — something she wasn’t emotionally prepared for at the time.
“For about three years, I was just incredibly angry,” Khloé admitted, describing the storm of emotions she navigated following her father’s death. Robert Kardashian, the celebrated attorney best known for his role in the O.J. Simpson trial, passed away in 2003 from esophageal cancer when Khloé was only 19 years old.
By the time Keeping Up with the Kardashians premiered in 2007, the pain was still raw. “I was filming the show, and in season one, one of the producers really pushed me to do an interview about my dad,” Khloé explained. “I wasn’t ready. If I spoke about him, I would just instantly break down.”
In fact, during episode five of the first season, Khloé became so overwhelmed during a confessional that she had to leave the set mid-interview. Although the moment felt like being forced through her grief, Khloé now views it as an unexpected gift.
“It was as if a house got lifted off of me,” she reflected. “I was kicking and screaming through it, but after that conversation, it was the last time I cried about my dad in a bad way.”
Today, Khloé Kardashian says she has made peace with her father’s passing. “Now I can talk about my dad with joy and pride,” she said, adding that motherhood has deepened her understanding of their bond.
David Kessler acknowledged Khloé’s resilience, remarking, “While it would’ve been better for you to open up on your own terms, somehow the camera became a safe place.”
For Khloé Kardashian, what once felt like a painful invasion eventually blossomed into emotional freedom — a healing journey she continues to share with her fans.