The tension was palpable when Khloé Kardashian reunited with her ex-husband Lamar Odom during the season 6 premiere of The Kardashians, airing on February 6, 2025. After nearly nine years apart, their first face-to-face meeting brought back both fond and painful memories, leading to significant emotional revelations for both former flames.
Khloé, now 40, hosted the reunion at her best friend Malika Haqq's home, where the former NBA star, 45, arrived bearing roses and champagne, clearly attempting to break the ice. "I haven't seen you in so long; you make me nervous," Lamar told Khloé, only to have her comment later on camera, "He’s visibly uncomfortable, he’s nervous, he’s sweating. He seems scared." This dichotomy set the stage for the complex emotions underlying their encounter.
For Khloé, the meeting wasn't about reigniting the past, but rather about returning some of Lamar's treasured belongings, including his Sixth Man of the Year award and jewelry she had gifted him during their marriage. "Aww, Khloé, you are the best," Lamar said as he received the jewelry, which featured three angel wings representing his deceased family members, highlighting the sentimental value behind their past.
Reflecting on their tumultuous history, Khloé candidly admitted, "Lamar was, and is, definitely someone... the love of my life." This admission came after she had spent years grappling with the trauma of their relationship, which was marred by public infidelity and addiction struggles. Their marriage, which took place just 30 days after they met at a party, began to unravel when Khloé filed for divorce in 2013. Her decision to pause the divorce proceedings following Lamar's near-fatal overdose in 2015 revealed the deep emotional ties she still held.
"I have dealt with so much trauma... to learn how to unlove someone — to have to go through all of this — it’s almost like a death," she shared, encapsulating the emotional weight of their shared past. Despite her desire to close this chapter, Khloé recognized the difficulty of confronting old feelings. "Just the first glance of seeing Lamar, I feel a little bit of — God, this is so familiar and so uncharted all at the same time," she said, expressing the conflicting emotions of nostalgia and dread.
Throughout the reunion, Khloé emphasized her intent to shed emotional baggage. "I haven’t had contact with Lamar in nine years and I just think it’s time to shed as much as I can. I don’t have bad blood. I want him to have his stuff... and that's it. I wish I could just do this and not have a conversation." Yet, the conversation itself spoke volumes. Lamar's reactions indicated unresolved sentiments, as he referred to her as "my wife" during their meeting, prompting Khloé to respond, "OK, calm down." She later remarked, "Him calling me his wife — words are empty," highlighting her emotional detachment from their shared past.
Viewers tuned in to witness the complex dance of emotions. Social media was alive with reactions; some fans expressed how nostalgic they felt watching the former couple together, recalling the not-so-distant thrill of their love story aired on E! from 2011 during their reality show Khloé & Lamar. One viewer stated, "It's amazing to see these two wish only the best for each other after all these years, considering everything they’ve been through—particularly what Lamar put his ex-wife through.”
While some fans felt the meeting was too awkward, many others seemed to resonate with the love and pain the two clearly still felt toward each other. Yet, the sentiment of healing was prevalent. Khloé revealed, "I don’t know this person anymore. It’s just a mind f*k," recognizing the transformation they both underwent since their marriage ended.
Lamar’s nervous demeanor contrasted Khloé's seemingly resolved emotions. "I can see Lamar is having such a hard time speaking. And I understand. We have been through so much. Maybe I remind him of a time in his life that's really dark. I don’t know, but right now, it’s just uncomfortable memories and feelings." This acknowledgment showed Khloé's awareness of their intertwined histories, even if she felt detached.
Despite the emotional atmosphere, Khloé appears ready to move on. Following her split from Lamar, she has welcomed two children with Tristan Thompson and is now focused on her future. Yet, the reunion seemed to offer both Khloé and Lamar something they hadn’t anticipated — closure. For many fans, witnessing their emotional exchange sparked hope for both to find peace within themselves.
Every Thursday, new episodes of The Kardashians* drop on Hulu, and as viewers continue to tune in, they remain invested not just in the star-studded family’s lives, but also in the emotional journeys of its individual members.