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When a relationship involves feuds, reality TV, two of the most famous people in the entire world, and more headlines than what's fit to print, it can only be Kim Kardashian and Kanye West. Although Kimye is no longer together — they finalized their divorce in November 2022 — the exes and co-parents shared some milestone moments over the course of their decade-long relationship.
After meeting through a mutual connection in the early 2000s, the power couple went on to date, marry, and welcome four children. Given their combined fame, their romance garnered constant media attention.
As much as Kardashian pulled at our heartstrings when she posted a video on Twitter of West's grand romantic gesture involving a Kenny G-filled Valentine's Day, it didn't distract from problems, namely West's anti-semitic hate speech and explosive rant on TMZ Live. ICYMI, we're rounding up everything you need to know about the former flames, from when they first crossed paths to their separation and every kid and rumor in between.
Here's a look back at Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's relationship.
2002-2003: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West first meet
"I met him, I think, in 2002 or 2003," Kardashian told Ryan Seacrest during the Keeping Up with the Kardashians 10th anniversary special.
"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."
2008: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West reconnect
A few years later, Kimye got together with actual video evidence. According to Us Weekly, they filmed something called Alligator Boots, and it involved Kim dressing up as Princess Leia.
October 2011: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are first spotted together in Paris
Another gem from the KUWTK anniversary special. Kimmie explained that after her quickie marriage to Kris Humphries (72 days), she flew to Paris to see West's fashion show — and that's when she fell for him.
"Right before I got married to Kris Humphries, [Kanye and I] were talking, and I just went a different direction. I think I had to go through that to figure out what I wanted. After my breakup, I was feeling really low and down, and he said, 'Just come to Paris and see my fashion show,'" Kardashian told Seacrest. "He jokes that he put on this whole fashion show just to get a date with me. So, I went there, and I stayed with him, and that's where we started dating. 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."
April 17, 2012: Kanye West sings about Kim Kardashian
West name-dropped Kardashian in a song, "Cold," saying, "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."
The rapper also made his first appearance on KUWTK later in August. He Marie Kondo'ed Kim's closet, purging all the Hervé Léger.
May 6, 2013: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West make their Met Gala debut
Stephen Lovekin / FilmMagic / Getty Images
The couple made their Met Gala debut in May 2013. The SKIMS founder wore her now-infamous Givenchy gown for the year's theme, "Punk: From Chaos to Couture." This would be the first of many Met Gala outings for the duo.
June 15, 2013: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West welcome their first child together
West had announced that he and Kardashian were expecting their first child together during his concert in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in December. Six months later, the couple welcomed their daughter, North West.
October 21, 2013: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West get engaged
West proposed to Kardashian on her 33rd birthday in the only way befitting the artist and producer: at a stadium. He rented out San Francisco's AT&T Park and popped the question with friends and family — as well as an orchestra — present, reported People. Naturally, it was all documented on KUWTK.
May 24, 2014: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West get married
Kimye tied the knot at Forte di Belvedere in Florence, Italy (aka the city where they conceived North), in May 2014. In attendance were 200 guests, which the couple reportedly had flown privately to the ceremony, per People.
December 5, 2015: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West welcome their second child
Kardashian and West welcomed their son, Saint West, in December 2015. The couple was thankful, especially since the road to their second pregnancy had not been easy. The reality star opened up to E!, saying, "I just don't think pregnancy and me really agree with each other. You know it was really hard for me to get pregnant, so I do feel really blessed that I am pregnant, and at the end of the day, it is a million times worth it … I'm really not complaining, I'm just being honest and being honest about, I hate it you know pregnancy is not for me."
2016: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West go through a rough patch
It proved to be a difficult year for the couple in 2016. West's Twitter rants, controversial comments, and reignited feud with Taylor Swift were in full force, and Kardashian was dealing with the aftermath.
If that weren't enough, Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint during Paris Fashion Week in October, and West was later hospitalized for exhaustion in November.
"Kanye and Kim had a stressful few months," a source told People. "It's been a tense time. But Kim is happy he's getting help."
January 15, 2018: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West welcome a third child
With the new year came a new addition to the Kardashian-West brood. The Donda rapper and reality TV star welcomed a third child, Chicago, via surrogate in January 2018.
August 9, 2018: Kris Jenner defends Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's relationship
Rumors of trouble between the two caught the attention of the tabloids (surprise, surprise). However, Kris Jenner refuted everything, setting the record straight in a way only she can.
"I think they're just so solid," she told Us. "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. You're going to have differences. You're going to have things that pop up. You're going to have hiccups. There's a lot of things in life as human beings that we all deal with, especially if we have a partner, a spouse. I think they're so committed to one another that things like that probably bring them closer together."
May 10, 2019: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West welcome their fourth child
Baby Psalm arrived in May 2019, also via surrogate.
That same month, Kardashian and West attended the Met Gala, which involved a major corset moment.
October 2019: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West renew their vows
West spoke about falling in love with his wife on an E! True Hollywood Story episode. "Anytime I was around her or I saw her, it was a magnetic attraction to this force of energy," he said. "She was good, pure, happy, loving, brave, courageous, strong."
The two renewed their vows and — surprise — it wasn't on KUWTK. However, Kardashian gave us a glimpse into the ceremony when she read an excerpt of what they said with son Saint, "You are my husband. You are my best friend. My biggest believer and my one true love."
During an appearance with Zane Lowe on Apple Music's Beats 1, West said that he considered their marriage to be a success.
"I have five years of marriage under my belt. 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."
May 2020: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are reportedly spending time apart
British tabloid The Sun reported that Kimye was staying clear of each other to keep tension out of their relationship: "Kim and Kanye are arguing and at each other's throats during this pandemic. Kim is getting stir-crazy, as she's used to being on the go. It's also a lot of time alone with the kids for her."
July 22, 2020: Kim Kardashian opens up about Kanye West's bipolar diagnosis
Axelle / Bauer-Griffin / FilmMagic / Getty Images
Kardashian addressed West's bipolar diagnosis via Instagram following a series of erratic tweets by the artist, reported People.
"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 ... I kindly ask that the media and public give us the compassion and empathy that is needed so that we can get through this."
January 2021: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West spark divorce rumors
The couple made headlines after reports surfaced that Kardashian was preparing to file for divorce. A source told People, "He knows that she's done. She has had enough, and she told him that she wants some space to figure out her future."
According to TMZ, the two were in marriage counseling, but "divorce is on the table."
"It's gotten to the point where they haven't spent time together as a married couple in months," a source told E! "They've seen each other for the sake of the kids but have been living separately. Kim knows the marriage is over. She's known for a while."
The source added that divorce hasn't been filed yet because the reality star "wants to make sure she's making the right decision for the kids."
February 19, 2021: Kim Kardashian files for divorce from Kanye West
Kardashian officially filed for divorce from West in February 2021, with TMZ breaking the news.
"They are just not on the same page when it comes to their future as a family," a source told People. "And Kim is okay with it."
On November 29, 2022, the exes finalized their divorce.
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